Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 8th, 2022–Dec 9th, 2022

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

Below Threshold

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be below threshold

Alpine

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be low

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

Below Threshold

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be below threshold

Alpine

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be low

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

Below Threshold

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be below threshold

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

With 15 cm of new snow available for transport where the wind is blowing, we should expect to find wind slabs. Carefully evaluate each slope for isolated wind slabs before committing.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

One natural size 1.5 wind slab avalanche was reported at White Pass in steep, rocky terrain on Thursday.

If you head out in the backcountry please support your community by submitting a MIN report!

Snowpack Summary

15 cm of unconsolidated snow is available for redistribution where wind exists. This sits atop heavily wind-affected surfaces. A faceting crust is found down 20-50 cm on solar aspects but has not been reactive in tests. Treeline averages 80 cm of snow. Up to 100 cm of snow is found in the alpine however winds have made distribution variable.

The lower snowpack consists of soft, sugary facets and a crust near ground level. Many early-season hazards exist at treeline and below such as rocks, stumps, and open creeks.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace accumulation, southerly ridge winds 20 km/h, temperatures drop to -15 at 1500 m.

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Northerly ridge winds 20 - 30 km/h, temperatures continue dropping to -20 at 1500 m.

Saturday

Mostly sunny with northerly ridge winds 20 km/h, temperatures -25 at 1500 m.

Sunday

Clear skies in the morning with increasing clouds in the afternoon. Ridge winds southerly 20 km/h, temperatures rising to - 19 at 1500m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.
Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Thin wind slabs may exist on isolated features where winds have redistributed new snow into a more cohesive slab.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Unlikely

Expected Size: 1 - 1.5