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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2023–Mar 27th, 2023

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

Yukon, Tutshi, Wheaton, White Pass East, White Pass West.

Northerly winds may have formed fresh, reactive wind slabs in exposed areas.

Be cautious as you enter wind-affected terrain and avoid steep sun-exposed slopes and overhead hazard during periods of strong sun.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday a few loose natural wet avalanches were reported on south aspects in the alpine. These avalanches occurred as a result of strong sun and were large (size 2).

On Thursday a few loose dry avalanches were reported on all aspects in the alpine. These avalanches were small (size 1.5).

If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Variable strong winds have redistributed 50 cm of recent storm snow creating hard wind affected surfaces in alpine and exposed treeline terrain. In protected areas in the alpine up to 30 cm of relatively undisturbed powder may exist. A sun crust exists on steep solar aspects in the alpine and all aspects but north at treeline.

Specific to Haines pass and below 1300 m the 50 cm of storm snow now has a stout and supportive melt freeze crust that has capped it. An additional 5 to 15 cm of new snow now overlies this melt freeze crust.

A buried weak layer of surface hoar can be found about 80 cm deep in Powder Valley, Tutshi, Paddy Peak and Haines pass areas, 150 to 200 cm around White Pass. This layer is most prominent on northerly slopes sheltered from the wind. On other aspects, this layer is a hard melt-freeze crust with weak facets around it. This layer has been most problematic in alpine terrain.

The remainder of the middle of the snowpack is consolidated and strong. Weak faceted grains are found near the base of the snowpack, particularly in thin snowpack areas.

Weather Summary

Sunday night

Clear with cloudy periods. Alpine temperatures drop to a low of -15 °C. Ridge wind northeast 20 to 50 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Monday

Mainly sunny. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -5 °C. Ridge wind 10-20 km/h from the west. Freezing level rises to 400 metres.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -5 °C. Ridge wind 15 to 40 km/h from the northwest. Freezing level rises to 400 metres.

Wednesday

Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -5 °C. Ridge wind southwest 20-45 km/h. Freezing level rises to 500 metres.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.