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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 24th, 2023–Jan 25th, 2023

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

Regions

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

Strong winds and new snow available for wind transport maintain the current avalanche danger rating and will continue to build upon already reactive wind slabs.

Adopt a conservative terrain travel strategy that avoids steep north aspect terrain and seeks out low-angle well supported terrain.

Expected warming and the potential sun effect will encourage the surface snow to become unconsolidated, especially on steep south-aspect terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Monday: The south klondike highway operation reports a naturally occurring large (size 2) avalanche cycle on E through to Ne aspects in the alpine.

Sunday, A mountain information network report outlines both conditions and the observation of a naturally occurring small (size 1) avalanche. This avalanche appears to have failed near the ground and was reported to have occurred on a northeast aspect in the Fraser lakes area. See embedded MIN for pictures and review.

Saturday reports provided by the Skagway white pass avalanche control program, indicate that utilizing explosives 26kg or greater initiated numerous large avalanches (size 2 to 2.5).

Snowpack Summary

A strong southerly wind has continued to transport available new snow that has cross-loaded and created wind slabs at depths reported between 60 to 70 cm.

These new accumulations overlie an upper snowpack consisting of 15 to 30 cm of both new storm snow and unconsolidated faceted snow. The midpack presents as very dense with a reactive mid-December layer buried down between 40 to 55 cm.

Snowpack depths vary due to wind transport with averages at treeline reported as 125 cm and 200 cm in the alpine. In areas where the snowpack is less than 1 meter in depth, it is reported to be quite faceted and unconsolidated.

Weather Summary

Tuesday night

Cloudy with light snowfall, 1 to 5 cm of accumulation. Alpine temperatures are 1 °C. Ridge wind west 70 km/h. The freezing level rises to 1500 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with light snowfall, 5 to 10 cm of accumulation. Alpine temperatures are 0 °C. Ridge wind southwest 60 km/h. The freezing level rises to 1200 m.

Thursday

Cloudy with very light snowfall, trace amounts of accumulation. Alpine temperatures drop to -2 °C. Ridge wind west becoming northwest 30 km/h. The freezing level beginning to descend from 1200 m to 0 meters by day's end.

Friday

Clearing with no new precipitation. Alpine temperatures -8 °C. Ridge wind northwest 10 km/h. The freezing level 0 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to the wind, once it starts to blow fresh sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
  • Watch for unstable snow on specific terrain features, especially when the snow is moist or wet.

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.

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.