Avalanche forecast

Yukon

Jan 7 – 8, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Watch for new and reactive wind slabs

Widespread, persistent weak layers remain a concern. Avoid exposure to large, open features, including overhead hazard.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Expect to find new, reactive slabs on north and east facing slopes, most prominent in the White Pass area.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    A widespread layer of facets sits 70-100 cm deep, formed during prolonged cold. It is most likely to be triggered where the snowpack thins rapidly.

Confidence

Low

  • Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.
  • Uncertainty is due to the fact that persistent slabs are particularly difficult to forecast.

Avalanche Summary

We expect natural wind and persistent slab avalanches have likely occurred with warming, strong winds and new snow stressing the snowpack.

If you head into the mountains, please share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

By Wednesday afternoon, storm totals are expected to reach 45 cm in White Pass, tapering to 10-15 cm elsewhere. This sits over 40-65 cm of heavily wind-affected snow. The primary concern remains the 70-100 cm of weak facets that make up the lower snowpack.

Snowpack depths vary widely due to wind, but average around 160 cm across the region.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 10 cm of snow. 40-60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 4 to 5 cm of snow. 30-50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds. 2 to 4 cm of snow. 10-30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.

Friday
Mostly cloudy. 4 to 10 cm of snow. 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.
  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.

Regions covered