Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Yukon.
This will be the last forecast for the season, covering conditions through to Thursday when we make the transition to Spring Conditions.
Assess slopes as you travel and expect highly variable snow conditions with elevation, aspect, and time of day. Enjoy the spring skiing!
Confidence
Low - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.
Weather Forecast
MONDAY NIGHT: Partially cloudy with isolated flurries. Freezing level lowering to 700 m. Light northeasterly winds.
TUESDAY: Mainly cloudy with wet flurries, up to 5 cm of new snow accumulation. Freezing level rising to 1400 m in the afternoon. Light to moderate northeasterly winds.
WEDNESDAY: Mainly cloudy with wet flurries, up to 5 cm of new snow accumulation. Freezing level rising to 1000 m in the afternoon. Light westerly winds.
THURSDAY: A mix of sun and cloud. Freezing level rising to 1400 m in the afternoon. Light northeasterly winds.Â
Avalanche Summary
Natural and human-triggered wet loose avalanches (size 1-2) were observed on steep solar aspects on Sunday as a result of daytime warming.Â
Looking forward to this week, we suspect pockets of wind slabs will exist in lee areas in the alpine. Wet loose avalanches may occur on steep solar aspects during periods of warm temperatures and strong sun. Cornice falls will be most likely when the weather is sunny, warm, or windy.
Snowpack Summary
Light flurries over the next few days will add to 5-15 cm of recent snowfall. In the alpine, this new snow may be redistributed into pockets of wind slab in lee areas. A surface crust can be found on all aspects to at least 1400 m and to mountain top on solar aspects. This crust is expected to break down in the afternoons with daytime warming. The mid-snowpack is generally strong, with no weak layers of concern, overlying weak basal facets at the base of the snowpack.Â
Terrain and Travel
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
- As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Light snowfall is expected to continue over the next few days. Northerly winds and new snow may form pockets of wind slabs in the alpine.
Use caution entering lee terrain features below ridges. The snow could slide easily where it rests on a hard melt-freeze crust or facetted snow.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Cornices
Cornices are large and looming. Exposure to cornices should be minimized, especially during periods of warm temperatures or strong sun. Give them a wide berth when you are travelling on ridgelines and avoid overhead exposure to large cornices.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3
Loose Wet
Warm air and the sun can quickly destabilize the upper snowpack, causing loose wet avalanches on steep, sun-exposed slopes.
Periods of rain are possible at lower elevations on Tuesday and Wednesday, which could cause more widespread loose wet activity.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2