Yukon

Even small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme cold. Carefully assess or avoid steep, wind-loaded slopes.

Low

• Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Observations are limited due to extreme cold. The most recent avalanche observation was a size 2 wind slab which occurred on a south aspect near Tutshi Lake on Monday. Given the cold temperatures, ongoing wind, and lack of recent observations, it is best to assume wind slabs may still be lingering in leeward terrain features in wind-affected terrain.

The upper snowpack is heavily wind affected, with widespread sastrugi and hard wind slabs in open terrain. Cold temperatures are faceting the snowpack, allowing wind slabs to persist longer than usual.

Surface facets have formed and the new snowfall this weekend is expected to bond poorly to this weak surface layer.

Snowpack depths vary widely due to wind, but average around 100 cm across the region.

Thursday Night
Mostly clear skies. 40 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -27 °C.

Friday
Sunny. 30 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -27 °C.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 4 to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -25 °C.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -23 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
• Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind-loaded snow.
• Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.