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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 15th, 2024–Mar 16th, 2024

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 possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.

Regions

Haines Pass.

Southwest winds have formed deposits of reactive wind slab.

Seek out sheltered terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A few size 1.5 wind slab avalanches were reported by the Field Team in the Nadahini area on Thursday, failing below corniced ridgeline features.

Skiers triggered reactive wind slab deposits on north- and east-facing slopes near Haines Junction.

If you go into the backcountry, please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Moderate and strong south winds have redistributed 20 to 25 cm of new snow. Deeper, more reactive deposits exist in leeward terrain. Many windward features are stripped back to the ground.

A weak layer of faceted crystals or surface hoar found 50 to 80 cm deep remains a concern. The midpack is generally facetted to the ground.

The average snowpack depth at the treeline is around 150 cm.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Cloudy with 5 cm of snow expected. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures rise to -3 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy. 50 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1200 m.

Sunday

Cloudy up to 10 cm of new snow expected. 30 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around -2 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Monday

Cloudy. 15 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around -2 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

For more details, see the Mountain Weather Forecast.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • 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.