Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 20th, 2020–Jan 22nd, 2020

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

Regions

Yukon.

Snowfall expected throughout the week will increase the likelihood of wind slab avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with clear periods and isolated flurries, moderate wind from the southwest, alpine temperatures drop to -10 C.

TUESDAY: Cloudy, light wind from various directions, alpine high temperatures around -8 C.

WEDNESDAY: Scattered flurries with 10-30 cm of new snow, strong wind from the south, alpine high temperatures around -6 C.

THURSDAY: 5-10 cm of new snow, moderate wind from the south, alpine high temperatures around -10 C.

Avalanche Summary

A small (size 1) naturally triggered wind slab was reported on Saturday on a low angle roll in the trees (see photos in this MIN report). Looking ahead fresh wind slabs will form with incoming storms on Wednesday and Friday.

Snowpack Summary

Wind over the past week has ravaged the surface snow, stripping away snow in exposed terrain and depositing it in lee terrain features. Isolated wind slabs may still be found. The prolonged cold temperatures have started to facet the upper snowpack and there has even been some surface hoar starting to develop in the trees. Snow depths at White Pass average around 150 cm; deeper locations (higher terrain west of the highway) have as much as 200 cm. It's reasonable to expect a thin snowpack with sugary facets in the Wheaton Valley, although we don't yet have observations to confirm this.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Be aware of highly variable recent wind loading patterns.

Problems

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.