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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 25th, 2025–Apr 28th, 2025

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

Regions

Haines Pass.

Assess for slabs in northerly terrain and expect warming-related avalanche problems during the heat of the day.

This is the final daily avalanche forecast for the season.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

We haven't received recent reports of avalanche activity.

Last weekend, reports here and here describe large avalanches that released on buried weak layers on northerly alpine terrain.

Looking forward, we suspect that riders could trigger slabs within the recent snow, particularly in northerly terrain where they rest on surface hoar crystals. Also use caution on sun-exposed slopes midday and near cornices.

Please share your observations to the MIN!

Snowpack Summary

Around 10 to 20 cm of recent snow overlies surface hoar crystals on shaded aspects and a melt-freeze crust at lower elevations and on sun-exposed slopes. Recent southeast to southwest wind may have formed deeper deposits in lee terrain features.

We have limited snowpack information, but this report suggests a generally weak lower snowpack with various potential layers of concern, which recently produced large avalanches.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with afternoon clearing. 10 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1100 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with 1 to 3 cm of snow. 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Monday

Cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Make observations and continually assess conditions as you travel.
  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
  • Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.