Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Tutshi, Wheaton, White Pass East, White Pass West, Yukon.
Continuously assess conditions as you move through terrain.
Avoid thin-to-thick areas like rocky outcrops where you're more likely to trigger avalanches on weak layers.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported in the region on Wednesday.
No new persistent slab avalanches have been reported in the past week, but uncertainty remains regarding the early December layer mentioned in the snowpack summary.
If you're heading into the backcountry please consider making a MIN report with your observations and photos from the day. All information is helpful for forecasters!
Snowpack Summary
Previous strong outflow wind has created variable snow surfaces in exposed terrain on all aspects and elevations. Ongoing cold temperatures have softened the upper snowpack in sheltered terrain.
A weak layer of facets and a crust from early December is buried 60 to 100 cm deep. This layer exists on all aspects up to 1750 m. This layer remains a concern in this region.
At the highway elevation the snow is 120 cm deep and in the alpine exceeds 200 cm.
Check out this MIN report from the Yukon field team for recent snowpack observations.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace amounts of snow. 20 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -19 °C.
Friday
Partly cloudy. 30 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °C.
Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud. 30 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -16 °C.
Sunday
Partly cloudy with isolated flurries, 1 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.
- Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rocky outcrops, and steep terrain where triggering is most likely.
- Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
The December weak layer remains possible to human-trigger in shallow snowpack areas or with large loads like a cornice fall. Avoid thin-to-thick areas where triggering weak layers is more likely. Minimize exposure to overhead hazards.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3