Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Tutshi, Wheaton, White Pass East, White Pass West, Yukon.
Stick to conservative terrain free from overhead hazard. Buried weak layers are best managed by choosing simple terrain, and avoiding freshly wind loaded slopes.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported, however observations are limited. We expect natural wind slab avalanches have occurred during the strong winds on Monday. Wind slabs may have stepped down to the buried weak layers.
On Wednesday, a snowmobile remotely triggered a size 3 persistent slab from 100 m away near Bryant Lake. It was triggered from flat terrain at the col on an ENE aspect at 1500 m.
Snowpack Summary
Sheltered terrain holds around 60 cm of settling snow from the last week. Exposed terrain has been heavily wind affected.
A weak layer of facets and a crust is buried 50 to 100 cm deep. This layer has shown recent reactivity, and we expect it to remain sensitive to human triggering. Check out this recent conditions report for more on the persistent weak layer problem.
Total snow depths are around 160 to 190 cm at treeline.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy with a chance of flurries. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Tuesday
Cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with 5 cm of snow. 50 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy with flurries. 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °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.
- Remote triggering is a concern; avoid terrain where triggering overhead slopes is possible.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Facets and a crust buried 50 to 100 cm deep has shown recent reactivity to remote triggering. Wind slabs may step down to this layer, producing large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5
Wind Slabs
Fresh and wind slabs may have formed. Give wind loaded slopes time to settle and bond.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5