Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Yukon.
Wind slabs might be reactive to human triggers. If the sun comes out, the upper snowpack might weaken and the potential for wet loose avalanches will increase.
Confidence
High -
Weather Forecast
Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy, up to 3 cm snow, moderate to strong southeast wind, alpine low -4 °C, freezing level at valley bottom.
Thursday: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, up to 5 cm snow, moderate to strong south wind, alpine high -2 °C, freezing level at 900 m.
Friday: Mix of sun and cloud, trace of new snow, light westerly wind, alpine high -4 °C, freezing level at valley bottom.
Saturday: Mix of sun and cloud, trace of new snow, moderate northerly wind, alpine high -4 °C, freezing level at valley bottom.Â
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported on Tuesday.
Many small natural wind slabs and dry loose avalanches up to size 1.5 occurred on Monday. A couple naturally triggered size 2 wet slab avalanches were observed on steep, solar aspects.Â
A small (size 1) skier triggered wind slab avalanche was also reported on a steep slope in the alpine.
Snowpack Summary
20-30 cm of recent snow sits on a hard surface of either wind-pressed old snow or sun crusts on solar aspects. The recent snow is wind affected and has a sun crust on sun-exposed slopes up into lower alpine elevations. Dry, low density snow can still be found in steep sheltered terrain features, gullies and glades.Â
A strong mid-pack sits on top of weak facets near the ground.
Cornices are very large and exposure to them should be minimized, especially during warm or windy weather.
Terrain and Travel
- Avoid freshly wind loaded terrain features.
- Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
- Minimize your exposure time below cornices.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Moderate to strong southerly winds continue to form fresh wind slabs on lee features, which may be reactive to human triggers.
Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind-loaded snow.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Wet
If the sun comes out, the likelihood of naturally triggered wet loose avalanches will increase rapidly.
A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2