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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 21st, 2022–Dec 22nd, 2022

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
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, Tutshi, Wheaton, White Pass East, White Pass West.

If you're getting out in the cold, remember that freezing temperatures and shorter days make for higher consequences.

Watch for isolated pockets of lingering wind slabs in places you might not expect them.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed or reported in the past 24 hour period. Continue to support your backcountry community and please consider submitting a MIN report, Your information sharing is vital.

Snowpack Summary

The snowpack has been highly wind-affected from the past strong to extreme north wind. Upper elevation terrain has been scoured and in some places the ground is exposed. The height of the snowpack is variable, areas in the lee of the prevailing wind depths of up to 150cm can be found. Most of the upper snowpack presents as a crust in areas protected from the wind, it is expected that between 10-15cm overlies the crust. At the lower elevation treeline terrain, snow depths decrease and is estimated at 60 to 90 cm.

Weather Summary

This extended period of cold artic air is forecast to begin to slowly subside late Friday. A series of warm winter storm fronts approaching from the south of British Columbia will for this forecast area produce a slight rise in temperature and light snowfall.

Wednesday night

Cloudy. Flurries 1 cm. Northeast winds at 20 km/h at ridge tops. Temperatures near -26˚C.

Thursday

Cloudy. Flurries 1 cm. Northeast winds at 20 km/h at ridge tops. Temperatures near -25˚C.

Friday

Snow 1-5 cm. Southwesterly winds at 40 km/h at ridge tops. Temperatures near -26˚C.

Saturday

Snow 1-5 cm. Southwesterly winds at 60 km/h at ridge tops. Temperatures near -24˚C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
  • Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.

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.