Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Yukon.
Lingering wind slabs in exposed terrain are the main concern. Cool temperatures are forecast to stick around for few more days.
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY Night: Cloudy with isolated flurries light northeast wind, temperatures between -18 and -21 C.
SUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light northeast wind, temperatures between -17 and -20 C.
MONDAY: Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, light southerly wind, temperatures between -18 and -22 C.
TUESDAY: Mainly cloudy, light to moderate wind, temperatures around -20 C.
Avalanche Summary
Several naturally-triggered wind slab avalanches were observed around White Pass earlier last week. They were on all aspects, roughly 40-50 cm thick, and ranged in size between 1-2.5. No significant changes since then suggest these wind slabs still exist, but are now more difficult to trigger.
Snowpack Summary
Frigid temperatures are softening the surface snow, which consists of old wind slabs in open terrain and some soft pockets in sheltered terrain. Wind affect is widespread above 1200 m.
A buried weak layer of surface hoar may still be found around 90 cm deep. It was found around Log Cabin and also in Powder Valley (see here). Avalanche activity on this layer hasn't been reported since the first week of January and isn't expected to spike without a substantial snowfall or warming trend.
The lower snowpack is strong around White Pass but a thinner and weaker snowpack structure is expected inland, such as in the Wheaton Valley and the south Klondike.
Terrain and Travel
- Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
- Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
- Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Shifting wind earlier in the week has left widespread wind slabs in the alpine and open treeline terrain. These slabs are becoming less likely to trigger, but you should still travel with caution around steep terrain with slabby surfaces.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2