Avalanche Forecast

Cold weather persists as a Pacific frontal system to the south brushes the region with a bit of cloud and isolated flurries.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with some isolated flurries and accumulations of 2-5 cm, 20 km/h northeast wind, temperatures around -20 C.

SATURDAY: Cloudy with some isolated flurries in the morning then clearing in the afternoon 30 km/h northeast wind, temperatures between -20 and -25 C.

SUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light wind, temperatures between -20 and -25 C.

MONDAY: Mostly cloudy with some isolated flurries, light wind, temperatures between -20 and -25 C.

Several naturally-triggered wind slab avalanches were observed around White Pass earlier this week. They were on all aspects, roughly 40-50 cm thick, and ranged in size between 1-2.5. No significant changes since then suggest these wind slabs still exist, but are now more difficult to trigger.

Frigid temperatures are softening the surface snow, which consists of old wind slabs in open terrain and some soft pockets in sheltered terrain. Wind affect is 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.

• Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
• Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
• Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.