Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Haines Pass, Tutshi, Wheaton, White Pass East, White Pass West, Yukon.
Wind slabs are the main concern, however there is potential for persistent slab avalanches in the eastern portions of White Pass. Back off if you encounter whumpfing or shooting cracks.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
There has been no new avalanche activity reported in the previous few days. If you do observe an avalanche, consider posting a MIN.
Snowpack Summary
20-40 cm of recent snow is being redistributed by primarily southerly winds. This snow sits on a melt-freeze crust on solar slopes, hard wind-affected snow, or facets and surface hoar on shady slopes.
Reports from the eastern portion of the White Pass area indicate a surface hoar layer 30-50 cm below the surface that has been reactive in snowpack tests.
A weak layer of facets sitting on a crust that formed in early December is buried 60 to 150 cm deep on all aspects up to 1750 m. This layer has not produced recent avalanche activity or test results and is not currently a concern.
Snow depth varies from 100 cm at highway elevations to over 200 cm in the alpine.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Partly cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C.
Saturday
Mostly sunny. 20 to 50 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -17 °C.
Monday
Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h southwest wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and cloud. 5 to 15 km/h southeast wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Approach steep and open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, as buried surface hoar may exist.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Southerly winds continue to keep wind slabs reactive.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5