Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Yukon.
The wind finally has fresh snow to move around!
Watch for pockets of fresh wind slab forming in east facing terrain features. Storm snow will be most reactive where it sits over a crust.
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the track & intensity of the incoming weather system. Uncertainty is due to the extreme variability of wind effect on the snowpack.
Weather Forecast
Light snowfall tapers off Saturday afternoon. Sunday brings a brief break in the snow and wind with another active front forecast to hit late evening.
FRIDAY NIGHT: 5 cm of snow possible overnight, strong southwest wind. Freezing level valley bottom.
SATURDAY: Cloudy, up to 2-8 cm of snow, moderate to strong westerly winds. Freezing level valley bottom, alpine high -6 °C.
SUNDAY: Cloudy with light flurries. Light to moderate southeast winds. Freezing levels at valley bottom. Alpine high of -12.Â
MONDAY: Snow begins overnight with 5 cm possible by morning and another 5 cm over the day. Strong southerly winds. Freezing levels at valley bottom, alpine high of -6.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported since Saturday.Â
If you head out into the mountains, please let us know what you see on the Mountain Information Network.Â
Snowpack Summary
Light snowfall sits over heavily wind affected surfaces in most terrain features. On steep, sun-affected terrain new snow may sit over a crust.
Another crust is buried 20-40cm deep on south facing terrain. On other aspects, an interface of weak facetted crystals exists that has not produced recent avalanche activity.Â
The lower snowpack is well bridged by the layers above, and it is unlikely that avalanches will be triggered on weak, sugary crystals near the ground at this time.Â
Terrain and Travel
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
- Avoid slopes that sound hollow or drum-like.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Expect wind slabs on east facing terrain features. While slabs may be small they are likely reactive to human triggers, as they form over a crust on south facing slopes and hard surfaces elsewhere.
Old hard wind slabs might still be reactive to human triggers or natural triggers like large cornice falls. Avoid steep, unsupported slopes that sound drum-like or hollow.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2