January 03, 2008
Whistler Avalanche conditions
January 03, 2008
Alpine: HIGH
Treeline: CONSIDERABLE
Below Treeline: MODERATE
Travel Advisory: We have received 22cm of new snow during the past 36hrs accompanied by strong East and South-Easterly winds. You can expect to encounter soft windslabs varying from 20-60cm in depth in some start zones and to the lee of some terrain features. The Dec 4th rain crust is well buried in most locations with the exception of some ridgelines and on some windward slopes.
Avalanche Activity: Avalanche control conducted yesterday morning was producing up to size 2.0 avalanche activity with crown lines from 20 to 80cm in depth with widespread propagation. Most of the activity observed was in the alpine, with some activity observed at treeline elevations as well. Rising temperatures in the valley will likely result in some avalanche activity today below the treeline in some steep gullies and drainages. Bear in mind that an avalanche in motion or a cornice fall could possibly trigger a deep slab release on the Dec 4 crust and facet layer in some isolated areas.
Snowpack: In the alpine terrain a soft windslab is sitting on underlying buried layers of windslab, as well as areas of lighter density snow in more sheltered terrain. The December 4th facet crystal and raincrust weakness is gradually getting buried deeper, but the crust can still be found on the surface in some wind affected terrain. These layers may be a persistent weakness in some areas well into the season. Shallow rocky terrain is facetted as well, and failures there could propagate into the deeper instabilities. The forecast heavy snowfall and warming temperatures this week will be the first real test of these weaknesses, and you can expect to see some significant natural avalanching to occur. Given the depth of the instability, the avalanches have the potential to run full path to threaten the usually safe valley routes.
Weather: The system arriving onshore this morning will bring steady snowfall throughout the day today and overnight. Another series of systems is expected to arrive on Saturday and Sunday accompanied by heavy snowfall and another round of strong winds.
January 03, 2008
Alpine: HIGH
Treeline: CONSIDERABLE
Below Treeline: MODERATE
Travel Advisory: We have received 22cm of new snow during the past 36hrs accompanied by strong East and South-Easterly winds. You can expect to encounter soft windslabs varying from 20-60cm in depth in some start zones and to the lee of some terrain features. The Dec 4th rain crust is well buried in most locations with the exception of some ridgelines and on some windward slopes.
Avalanche Activity: Avalanche control conducted yesterday morning was producing up to size 2.0 avalanche activity with crown lines from 20 to 80cm in depth with widespread propagation. Most of the activity observed was in the alpine, with some activity observed at treeline elevations as well. Rising temperatures in the valley will likely result in some avalanche activity today below the treeline in some steep gullies and drainages. Bear in mind that an avalanche in motion or a cornice fall could possibly trigger a deep slab release on the Dec 4 crust and facet layer in some isolated areas.
Snowpack: In the alpine terrain a soft windslab is sitting on underlying buried layers of windslab, as well as areas of lighter density snow in more sheltered terrain. The December 4th facet crystal and raincrust weakness is gradually getting buried deeper, but the crust can still be found on the surface in some wind affected terrain. These layers may be a persistent weakness in some areas well into the season. Shallow rocky terrain is facetted as well, and failures there could propagate into the deeper instabilities. The forecast heavy snowfall and warming temperatures this week will be the first real test of these weaknesses, and you can expect to see some significant natural avalanching to occur. Given the depth of the instability, the avalanches have the potential to run full path to threaten the usually safe valley routes.
Weather: The system arriving onshore this morning will bring steady snowfall throughout the day today and overnight. Another series of systems is expected to arrive on Saturday and Sunday accompanied by heavy snowfall and another round of strong winds.
