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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 22nd, 2022–Dec 23rd, 2022

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
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, Tutshi, Wheaton, White Pass East, White Pass West.

If you're getting out in the cold, remember that freezing temperatures and shorter days make for higher consequences.

Check out this blog from our Yukon field team about managing the cold while traveling in avalanche terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed or reported in since Monday Dec 19th. Continue to support your backcountry community and please consider submitting a MIN report, Your information sharing is vital.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack has been highly wind-affected from the past strong to extreme north wind. Upper elevation terrain has been scoured and in some places the ground is exposed. The height of the snowpack is variable, areas in the lee of the prevailing wind depths of up to 150cm can be found. Most of the upper snowpack presents as a crust. In areas that are protected from the wind, it is expected that between 10-15cm overlies this crust. At the lower elevation treeline terrain, snow depths decrease and is estimated at 60 to 90 cm.

Weather Summary

This extended period of cold artic air is forecast to begin to slowly subside late Friday. As a series of warm winter storm fronts are approaching the outflow north winds are expected to increase in velocity. The approaching fronts are forecast to arrive from the south of British Columbia and will for this forecast area produce a slight rise in temperature, strong south west wind and a period of sustained light snowfall.

Thursday night

Snow 1-5 cm. Southwesterly winds 40 km/h at ridge tops. Temperatures near -26˚C.

Friday

Snow 5-10 cm. Southwesterly winds 60 km/h at ridge tops. Temperatures near -24˚C.

Saturday

Snow 5-10 cm. Southwesterly winds 60 to 100 km/h at ridge tops. Temperatures near -20˚C.

Sunday

Snow 1-5 cm. Southwesterly winds at 60 km/h at ridge tops. Temperatures near -15˚C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.

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.