Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Yukon.
Recent snow and strong southerly winds continue to form fresh wind slabs on lee features which may be reactive to human triggers.
Avoid steep or convex slopes where the wind has made the snow stiff or "slabby".
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.
Weather Forecast
Tuesday night: Partly cloudy with isolated flurries; 3-10 cm / Moderate southwest winds / Low of -9.
Wednesday: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries; 0-3 cm / Light southwest wind / High of -2.
Thursday: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries; 3-10 cm / Moderate south wind / High of -2.
Friday: Mix of sun and cloud / Light west wind / High of -4.
Avalanche Summary
A couple naturally triggered size 2 wet slab avalanches were observed on steep, solar aspects on Monday.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.
Strong southerly winds continue to form fresh wind slabs on lee features which may be reactive to human triggers.
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.
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
- Minimize your exposure time below cornices.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
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, South East, 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