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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 16th, 2022–Dec 17th, 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.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.

Regions

White Pass East, White Pass West.

Yukoners are tough and some will still get out into the mountains during this cold snap. Keep in mind that extreme cold temperatures increase the consequences of an avalanche involvement so it's a good time to choose terrain wisely.

Expect to find wind slabs on all aspects, especially at higher elevations.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No reports of recent avalanche activity. Although it is likely natural wind slab activity continues at higher elevations until the snow and winds taper by Friday morning.

Snowpack Summary

Recent strong to extreme southwest winds have redistributed the new snow. Scouring ridges and highpoints at upper elevations, while creating deep, loaded pockets on northerly terrain, up to 150 cm. A shift in winds to the north on Friday will move available snow back to south aspects and potentially create new slabs. Note that in extreme cold temperatures, it can take wind slab longer than usual to heal and bond to the snow below it.

A crust exists down about 20cm at treeline. The mid and lower snowpack is generally facetted and well-settled.

Treeline snow depth range from 60 to 90 cm.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Clearing. Wind north at 40km/h. Temperatures at -22˚C.

Saturday to Monday

Cold and clear. Wind from the north up to 40km/h. Temperatures down to -29˚C with wind chill making it feel like -38˚C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind exposed terrain.
  • Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.

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.