Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Jan 12th, 2025 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
Avalanche Canada,
Avalanche Canada
If you see 20 cm or more of new snow, consider danger to be HIGH.
Conservative route selection on simple terrain with no overhead hazard is recommended.
Summary
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
Large and very large (size 2-3) natural and explosive-triggered avalanches were observed along the Klondike highway corridor on Friday.
On Wednesday and Thursday our field team observed size 1-2 storm slab avalanches and experienced whumpfing. See photo below.
On Tuesday, a remotely triggered size 2 storm slab stepped down to the persistent weak layer. Check out the MIN report.
We expect natural and human-triggered avalanches to remain possible to likely on Monday.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 70 cm of snow fell in the alpine last week, with rain forming a crust below 1100 m. Most of the snowfall occurred near White Pass, with significantly less in the Wheaton and Tutshi areas. The storm snow may bond slowly, as it rests on a base of weak facets and, in some isolated areas, on surface hoar.
An additional 5 to 20 cm, accompanied by strong to extreme south winds, may fall Sunday night. This would build fresh reactive storm slabs.
A persistent weak layer consisting of a crust with 20 cm of facetted snow above it is buried 60 to 90 cm, and extends up to 1700 m. Some storm slabs last week stepped down to this crust, triggering large avalanches.
Total snow depths are around 100–180 cm at treeline.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Cloudy with 5 to 20 cm of snow or possible rain below 1000 m. Highest amounts are for the White Pass area. 70 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Monday
Cloudy with 0 to 7 cm of snow. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 700 to 1000 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with 10 to 25 cm of snow overnight and 0 to 7 cm during the day. The highest amounts will be near White Pass, with precipitation dissipating the further you go inland. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 700 to 1200 m.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
- Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Remote triggering is a concern; avoid terrain where triggering overhead slopes is possible.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Up to 70 cm of recent snowfall and strong winds built storm slabs. Additionally, up to 20 cm of new snow may fall overnight Sunday.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
A layer of facets over a crust buried 60 to 90 cm deep can produce very large avalanches if triggered. Some recent storm slabs have stepped down to this layer.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 13th, 2025 4:00PM
