Avalanche forecast

Yukon

Mar 28 – 29, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Lingering wind slabs and persistent slabs remain possible to trigger.

Watch Conditions Update Here

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Stubborn wind slabs may lurk around ridges and in lee terrain. Check for wind-loaded pockets below ridgelines and in cross-loaded features.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    1.5–3

    Facets in the mid and lower snowpack are most likely to be triggered in steep, rocky, wind-affected areas where the snowpack transitions from deep to shallow areas.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are confident that there are persistent slabs in the snowpack, but uncertain about how likely they are to trigger.

Avalanche Summary

Over the past few days, there has been evidence of large cornice falls triggering wind slabs up to size 2. Whumpfing and shooting cracks (clear signs of instability) were also described in this recent MIN post.

A snowmobiler triggered a persistent slab avalanche last Sunday on the east side of White Pass. (MIN post here.) The avalanche failed on facets near the ground.

While it's outside the forecast area, this great MIN from Whitehorse describes conditions there.

Snowpack Summary

Strong winds left behind stubborn wind slabs and hard, wind-affected surfaces. Some good riding and soft powder may still be found in isolated wind-sheltered locations at lower elevations.

Prolonged cold temperatures this winter resulted in a very weak, faceted mid to lower snowpack. Normally, thick and stiff wind-hardened layers would lower the likelihood of triggering these facets, but these layers are lacking their usual strength. Thick to thin upper treeline or lower alpine features are the most likely place to trigger deep weak layers in the mid and lower snowpack.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night
Clear skies. 10 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C.

Sunday
Mostly sunny. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.

Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -13 °C.

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 0 to 2 cm of snow. 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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