Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Yukon.
Strong wind from the north could cause heightened avalanche danger on freshly wind-loaded slopes.
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.
Weather Forecast
MONDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy with isolated flurries bringing trace amounts of snow, 40-60 km/h wind from the northeast, treeline temperatures drop to -18 C.
TUESDAY: Scattered cloud cover, no significant precipitation, strong 40-60 km/h outflow winds from the northeast continue, treeline temperatures around -13 C.
WEDNESDAY: Clear skies, no precipitation, 30 km/h wind from the northeast, treeline temperatures reach -10 C.
THURSDAY: Clear skies, no precipitation, 20-30 km/h wind from the northeast, treeline temperatures reach -6 C.
Avalanche Summary
A few large cornice failures were observed on Sunday, but these did not trigger slabs on the slopes below. Reports from Monday suggest that despite the strong northerly winds, there was not significant wind loading in avalanche terrain.
Snowpack Summary
Strong northerly wind has affected most surfaces and left small wind slabs along ridgetops. Sun crusts are found up to 1200 m on south and west facing slopes, while surfaces on other aspects are dry. The snowpack is strong with no weak layers of concern at this time.
Cornices are very large and exposure to them should be minimized, especially during warm or windy weather.
Terrain and Travel
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
- Cornices often break further back than expected; give them a wide berth when traveling on ridgetops.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Strong wind from the north has likely formed some small wind slabs near ridgetops on south-facing slopes.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5