Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 4th, 2026–Apr 5th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

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

Choosing moderate-angled slopes with thick, uniform snowpack coverage is a good way to avoid triggering a wind slab or a more destructive failure in the lower snowpack.

Confidence

Avalanche Summary

Aerial observations in White Pass on Thursday included several recent natural persistent slabs to size 2.5, mainly on southeast to southwest aspects. There were also numerous wet loose releases on similar aspects up to size 2 and a few small natural cornice releases triggering small wind slabs. One solar-triggered wind slab stepped down to a persistent weak layer and released a size 2 avalanche.

Check out this MIN report for more detail.

Snowpack Summary

Light flurries have added about 5 cm of new snow to surface hoar that has been growing in the high alpine, although southerly winds may have damaged these unwanted grains on wind-exposed slopes.

New snow has otherwise buried hard, pressed surfaces, wind slab, and sastrugi in exposed terrain. A sun crust should be found on or near the surface of sun-exposed slopes. Forecast winds will lend to these hard surfaces predominating once again. Aside from these less desirable surface conditions, we’ve received reports of good riding on faceted northeast-facing slopes and sheltered terrain at lower elevations.

The lower snowpack is faceted and generally weak, particularly in shallow areas.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night
Partly cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 15 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind, increasing. Treeline high temperature -3 °C.

Monday
Cloudy with flurries continuing from overnight bringing about 5 total cm of snow. 15 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind, easing. Treeline high temperature -1 °C.

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries bringing less than 5 cm of new snow, mostly overnight. 15 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind, increasing. Treeline high temperature -2 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.

Problems

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.

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.