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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 17th, 2025–Jan 18th, 2025

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.
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.

It's possible to remote-trigger very large avalanches from long distances away. Stick to simple terrain and avoid overhead slopes.

Check out this MIN report showcasing a recent avalanche.

 

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new reports on Friday.

On Wednesday, a snowmobile remotely triggered a large (size 3) persistent slab avalanche from 100 m away near Bryant Lake. It was triggered from flat terrain at the col on an ENE aspect at 1500 m. The crown depth was 1 to 2 m, the width was 400 m and it ran 400 m down slope. It slid on the December facet/ crust interface.

Heads up through the weekend, human-triggered avalanches remain likely.

Snowpack Summary

By Thursday, there was up to 40 cm of new snow. Previous strong southwest winds have redistributed the storm snow onto leeward slopes, building thicker wind slabs. The recent snow combined with changing winds may start to load south-facing slopes.

A persistent weak layer composed of facets overlying a crust is buried 50 to 100 cm deep and may be reactive with the new load from snow and wind.

Total snow depths are around 160 to 190 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Clear. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. 10 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

Sunday

Mix of sun and cloud. 30 to 45 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10°C.

Monday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. 35 gusting to 75 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Remote triggering is a concern; avoid terrain where triggering overhead slopes is possible.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
  • In times of uncertainty, conservative terrain choices are our best defense.

Problems

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.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.