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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 18th, 2022–Apr 19th, 2022

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.

Regions

Yukon.

Recent elevated winds probably didn't have enough loose snow available to form much of a wind slab problem. Triggering an avalanche remains unlikely.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Moderate east winds.

TUESDAY: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Moderate east winds, easing to light over the day. Treeline high temperatures around -8.

WEDNESDAY: Mainly cloudy. Light south winds. Treeline high temperatures around -9.

THURSDAY: A mix of sun and cloud. Light variable winds. Treeline high temperatures around -8. 

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported over the past few days on the Canadian side of White Pass. Things have been different on the US side with at least one very large natural avalanche as well as some ice falls leaving ice chunks and 4-5m debris piles on the rail line in the afternoon on Saturday and Sunday. 

 

A size 3 cornice-triggered slab avalanche was observed near White Pass last Tuesday. This avalanche occurred on an east aspect in the alpine.

Several small human-triggered wind slabs (size 1) were reported during the outflow wind event on Monday and Tuesday.

Looking forward, forecast strong winds aren't expected to have sufficient transportable snow to create even a small wind slab problem.

Snowpack Summary

Very light new snow amounts have been accumulating over mainly hard, wind affected surfaces from recent strong northerly winds. Recent elevated winds didn't have much loose snow available to transport into new wind slabs.

On south and west facing slopes up to 1400 m a surface crust from spring sunshine can be found, while other aspects hold dry snow. The mid-snowpack is generally strong, overlying weak basal facets at the base of the snowpack. 

Check out this MIN report for an overview of current conditions in the Fraser area. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.