Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 11th, 2026–Jan 12th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

Yukon, Tutshi, Wheaton, White Pass East, White Pass West.

Wind slabs are expected to be reactive to rider triggers

Persistent layers remain a concern. Avoid exposure to large, open slopes and thin or rocky start zones where triggering is more likely

Confidence

Moderate

Uncertainty is due to the fact that persistent slabs are particularly difficult to forecast.
Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Reports are limited; however, on Saturday, natural avalanches up to size 3 were observed. Wind slab avalanches are expected to continue as strong winds persist.

On Wednesday, explosive control triggered up to size 3 avalanches in the interior of the region, releasing on multiple layers, including lower snowpack facets.

Snowpack Summary

Alpine terrain remains heavily wind affected, with light snowfall each day redistributed into deeper deposits on north and east facing slopes. South facing slopes remain scoured.

At treeline a small surface hoar layer exists 50-80 cm deep. The lower snowpack consists of 60-100 cm of weak facets, with depth hoar in shallower areas.

Alpine snowpack depths vary widely due to wind effect, ranging from 130-250 cm across the region.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night
Cloudy. 3 to 8 cm of snow. 20-30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 500 m.

Monday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 50-70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 700 m.

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 50-80 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 400 m.

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 20 cm of snow. 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 900 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.