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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 8th, 2025–Jan 9th, 2025

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.

Regions

Yukon, Tutshi, Wheaton, White Pass East, White Pass West.

Avalanche danger will increase throughout the day.

Choose small low angle slopes and be prepared to dial back your objectives.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Our field team remotely triggered a large (size 2) storm slab that stepped down to the persistent weak layer on Tuesday by the Fraser Chutes. They also experienced signs of instability like whumphing and shooting cracks in many steeper wind loaded pockets. Check out their MIN report.

Snowpack Summary

By the end of the day on Thursday an additional 30 cm of snow may have fallen bringing recent storm totals to around 60 cm. This storm snow overlies a layer of facets. strong southerly winds will form deeper deposits on northerly aspects.

A weak layer of facets over a crust, from early December, can be found down 60 to 90 cm. This layer likely extends up to 1700 m. The rest of the mid pack is not concerning.

Snowpack depths range from about 100 to 180 cm.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Thursday

Cloudy with 10 to 30 cm of snow. 40 to 70 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with around 5 cm of snow. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud with up to 5 cm of snow possible. 50 to 80 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
  • Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.