Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Tutshi, Wheaton, White Pass East, White Pass West, Yukon.
Wind slabs persist at higher elevations.
Seek out terrain hidden from the wind and keep an eye on the solar effect if the sun pokes out.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
In White Pass, there were reports of wind transport during the day on Sunday creating reactive wind slabs. A skier triggered one while boot-packing in the alpine on a north aspect. It was up to 30 cm deep. A similar story was playing out in Haines Pass as well.
There was a skier remote triggered (from a distance) cornice fall which subsequently triggered a size 3 persistent slab avalanche on a northeast aspect at 1750 m on Saturday. The trigger point was at a thin spot on top of a flat ridgetop. The fracture was 200 cm deep and was suspected of running on a layer of facets sitting on a crust buried in January.
Let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
Slopes facing the sun are likely moist or have a thin surface crust. 5 to 15 cm of new snow falling late last week sits on wind-pressed surfaces in the alpine. Soft older snow may be found in shady, wind-sheltered areas. A weak layer of surface hoar/crust/facets buried in early January is now over 1 m deep in most areas and was responsible for an avalanche release recently. The lower snowpack consists of basal facets, particularly in thin snowpack areas.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Clear, no accumulation, southwest 10 km/h ramping 30, alpine temperature around -10 °C.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud, trace accumulation, winds southwest 40 to 50 km/h, alpine temperature around -12 to -8 °C.
Wednesday
A mix of sun and cloud, trace to 2 cm accumulation, winds southwest 40 km/h, alpine temperature -4 to -10 °C.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud, 10 to 15 cm accumulation starting Wednesday evening and carrying through the day, winds southeast 40 to 50 km/h, alpine temperatures -6 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
- Use caution on large alpine slopes, especially around thin areas that may propagate to deeper instabilities.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
- Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
West and southwest winds may have developed reactive wind slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
A layer of facets sitting on a crust buried in January has recently been reactive. Most likely triggers would be around thin spots or with a heavy load like a cornice fall or the weight of a smaller avalanche in motion stepping down.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 2 - 3