Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2022–Mar 27th, 2022

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

Yukon.

Limit exposure to slopes with cornices above. The likelihood of cornice falls could increase when the sun comes out.

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the fact that cornice falls are particularly difficult to forecast.

Weather Forecast

Saturday night: Possibility of mild temperature inversion. Low of -12 at 1100 m. No new snow expected. Light southwest winds.

Sunday: Mostly sunny with light variable wind. High of -3 at 1100 m. No new snow expected.

Monday: A mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light to moderate southwest winds. High of -4 at 1100 m.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy with light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow with light to moderate south winds. Freezing level rising to 1000 m.

Avalanche Summary

On Friday ski cutting produced wind slab avalanches up to size 1.5. Several wet loose avalanches to size 1.5 were also observed. These avalanches were on steep low elevation features.

We suspect small wet loose avalanches will be observed on steep south facing features when the sun comes out.

Snowpack Summary

Around 50 cm of recent snow is settling and bonding well. Wind slabs can be found near ridge tops, below convexities and in steep or extreme terrain in the alpine. Moist snow could be observed on solar aspects when the sun comes out.

A couple of sun crusts exist in the upper snowpack but none have been identified as layers of particular concern. The lower snowpack is thought to be well protected by the dense, wind-pressed layers above, and it is unlikely that avalanches will be triggered on weak, sugary crystals near the ground at this time.

Terrain and Travel

Minimize your exposure time below cornices.
Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.

Problems

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.

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.