Avalanche forecast

Yukon

Jan 12 – 13, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Watch for slabs formed by northerly winds. Cold exposure is also a major concern for backcountry travellers (read more in this blog).

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Arctic outflows developed wind slabs on south-facing slopes. Slabs will become more stubborn to ridgers, but potentially more dense and cohesive if triggered.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

The arrival of the arctic front on Wednesday resulted in a cycle of natural wind slab avalanches. The freshly formed wind slabs were also reactive to skiers, with whumpfs and shooting cracks reported by the Yukon Field Team.

Snowpack Summary

Most surfaces are likely wind-affected after the passage of the arctic front, but you may still find pockets of soft snow in sheltered areas.

A layer of surface hoar that formed on Christmas Eve may be found 50 cm deep, but recent observations suggest it has bonded. Snowpack depths range from 80 to 200 cm, with local variations due to wind redistribution.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Clear skies with no precipitation, alpine wind northeast up to 20 km/h, treeline temperature drops below -35 ºC.

Friday

Increasing cloud with no precipitation, alpine wind northwest 20-40 km/h, treeline temperature -30 ºC.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow, alpine wind southwest 40-60 km/h, treeline temperature -24ºC.

Sunday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow, alpine wind southwest gusting to 80 km/h, treeline temperature -20ºC.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.

Regions covered