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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 29th, 2022–Mar 30th, 2022

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.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.

Regions

Yukon.

Carefully assess your line for wind slab before committing to it. Keep your head up and be aware of cornice hazard.

Confidence

Moderate - The snowpack structure is generally well understood.

Weather Forecast

Tuesday night: Flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow with light to moderate southwest winds. Low of -4 at 1100 m.

Wednesday: Cloudy with flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow with Moderate southwest winds. Freezing level rising to 1000 m.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy with light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow with light to moderate southwest winds. Low of -3 at 1100 m.

Friday: Mostly cloudy with flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. Light to moderate south winds and a high of -2 at 1100 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Monday two large natural cornice falls were observed. They did not pull a slab on the slope below but the debris from the cornice itself would have been very destructive. 

Snowpack Summary

New wind slab could form in exposed terrain. Moist snow could be observed at low elevations.

A couple of sun crusts exist in the upper snowpack but none have been identified as layers of particular concern. The lower snowpack is thought to be well settled.

Terrain and Travel

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Minimize your exposure time below cornices.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.