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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 18th, 2023–Jan 19th, 2023

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

Updated on Thursday at 7:15 AM: Wind has arrived at White Pass and created dangerous avalanche conditions on wind-loaded slopes.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday our field team observed small (size 1) natural wind slab avalanches occurring when southerly winds picked up. We expect newly formed wind slabs to be reactive to human triggering.

Snowpack Summary

25 cm of loose faceted snow exists on the surface. This overlies a firmer midpack. A decomposing crust can be found down 50-100 cm. Below this, the lower snowpack is weak and faceted.

Snow depth at White Pass is around 100 cm in sheltered areas and up to 200 cm on wind-loaded slopes. Shallower snowpack areas (< 1 m) are reported to be quite facetted and loose.

Weather Summary

Wednesday night

Mainly cloudy with snowfall, up to 5 cm of accumulation. Southerly winds increasing, gusting 20 to 40 km/h. Alpine temperatures around -10 C. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Thursday

Periods of snow, up to 5 cm of accumulation. Southerly winds 20 gusting to 45 km/h. Alpine temperatures around -10 C. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Friday

Cloudy with snowfall. Southerly winds increasing 30 to 50 km/h. Freezing level rising to 500 m. Alpine temperatures around -5 C.

Saturday

Cloudy with snowfall. Southerly winds easing 20 to 40 km/h. Freezing level near valley bottom. Alpine temperatures around -8 C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to the wind, once it starts to blow fresh sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.

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.