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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 23rd, 2026–Mar 24th, 2026

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.
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.

Fresh wind slabs in combination with buried weak layers necessitate simple, low-angled terrain selection.

A close call with a large persistent slab occurred in White Pass on Sunday.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to a limited number of field observations.

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday, a significant avalanche accident occurred on the east side of White Pass, behind the Big Y. A snowmobiler highmarking a steep west-facing alpine slope triggered a size 2 persistent slab from a rocky thin area, failing on facets near the ground.

Looking forward to Tuesday, fresh, reactive wind slabs are expected to form with increasing northeast winds. Persistent slab avalanches remain possible to trigger, especially in steep, rocky, wind-affected terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Cornices are large and looming. Avoid travelling underneath them.

20 to 40 cm of snow has been redistributed by south shifting to northeast winds. Up to 60 cm of powder may still be found in sheltered areas.

A persistent weak layer of facets or crust/facets can be found down 65 to 100 cm.

Facets or depth hoar exist at the base of the snowpack, especially in the inland areas that have a shallower snowpack.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Partly cloudy. 10 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -13 °C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy. 30 to 40 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C.

Wednesday

Mix of sun and clouds. 2 cm of snow. 40 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy. 1 cm of snow. 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °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.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

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.