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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 2nd, 2022–Apr 3rd, 2022

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.

Regions

Yukon.

Strong wind will drive avalanche hazard. As flurries accumulate the touchiest deposits will be where wind has loaded fresh snow onto leeward slopes.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

Saturday night: Cloudy and unsettled with light flurries bringing trace to 10 cm. Moderate to strong southeast winds. Overnight low -12 C.

Sunday: Stormy and windy, 5-15 cm through the day. Strong southerly winds. Ridgetop high of -5 C.

Monday: Partly cloudy, isolated flurries, and sunny breaks, trace to 5 cm. Strong wind decreasing quickly to light southwesterlies. Ridgetop high of -2 C.

Tuesday: Unsettled and windy, up to 5 cm flurries. Southwest wind increasing to moderate-strong. Ridgetop high -6 C.

Avalanche Summary

Most recent avalanche observations are from Wednesday, when our field team observed natural dry loose avalanches on all aspects to size 1.5. While in the field they also observed wind transport and new wind slab formation.

Snowpack Summary

Strong wind will quickly redistribute flurries and loose snow into pressed surfaces and windslabs at treeline and higher. Fresh snow covers previously wind affected surfaces and a crust is on all aspects to 1200 m, and to ridgetop on solar slopes. The middle of the snowpack is reported to be strong and well settled. Take note, cornices are large and looming.

Terrain and Travel

  • Pay attention to the wind, once it starts to blow fresh sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • 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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.