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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 16th, 2024–Mar 17th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
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, Tutshi, Wheaton, White Pass East, White Pass West.

Southwest winds have formed deposits of reactive wind slab.

Seek out sheltered terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Many size 2 explosive-triggered avalanches were reported in the Pass on Friday.

Several natural wind slab avalanches, up to size 2, were reported to have failed above the highway on Thursday night.

Otherwise, field observations have been limited. If you head into the backcountry, please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Storm totals are expected to reach 50 cm by Sunday. Strong south winds have redistributed this snow into deep, reactive deposits on leeward terrain. This snow overlies firm surfaces and is not expected to bond well. In isolated areas, buried surface hoar may be found 60 to 75 cm deep. The mid-pack is generally strong and bridges the weak crystals at the base of the snowpack.

Freezing rain and warm temperatures yesterday may have created a surface crust up to 1500 m.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy with 2 cm of new snow. 60 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around -2 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around 0 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Monday

Cloudy with a trace of snow flurries. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around -1°C. Freezing level 900 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with a trace of snow flurries. 30 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around -1 °C. Freezing level 900 m.

For more details, see the Mountain Weather Forecast.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
  • Choose low-angled, sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.

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.