Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Yukon.
A few more days of cool temperatures. You'll likely find the softest snow in sheltered terrain.
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.
Weather Forecast
MONDAY Night: Cloudy with flurries, accumulation 2-3 cm, moderate northeast wind, temperature around -20 C.
TUESDAY: Mainly cloudy with sunny breaks, light to moderate northeast to northwest wind, temperature around -20 C.
WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, moderate northwest wind, temperature around -15 C.
THURSDAY: Cloudy with flurries, moderate northwest wind, temperature around -16.
Avalanche Summary
There have been no reports of recent avalanche activity.
Snowpack Summary
The snow surface likely consists of a bit of new snow sitting on top of old wind slabs in open terrain and some soft pockets in sheltered terrain. Wind affect is reported to be widespread above 1200 m.
A buried weak layer of surface hoar may still be found around 90 cm deep. It was found around Log Cabin and also in Powder Valley (see here). Avalanche activity on this layer hasn't been reported since the first week of January and isn't expected to spike without a substantial snowfall or warming trend.
The lower snowpack is strong around White Pass but a thinner and weaker snowpack structure is expected inland, such as in the Wheaton Valley and the south Klondike.
Terrain and Travel
- Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
- Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Recent northerly wind has created new thin new wind slabs in exposed lee terrain. Lingering widespread wind slabs from last week are still present but likely unreactive.
Aspects: South East, South, South West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5