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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 22nd, 2023–Jan 23rd, 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.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

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).

On Wednesday our field team observed a widespread natural avalanche cycle in the high alpine that was confined to north aspect and cross-loaded terrain features. These avalanches were small (size 1 to 1.5), and a few noted large avalanches occurred (size 2). Everything observed, ran fast and far through the soft and faceted lower elevation surfaces.

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

The approaching pacific storm and onshore flow will deliver up to 20 cm of new snow to the southwestern-facing front-range slopes. As the storm rapidly progresses east, precipitation amounts will generally be light, estimated at 5 cm on the east side of white past,

Sunday night

Cloudy with snowfall, 5 to 10 cm accumulation. Southerly winds 20 km/h building to 80 km/h. Freezing level near the valley bottoms. Alpine temperatures are around -10 °C.

Monday

Cloudy with snowfall, up to 10 cm of accumulation. Southerly winds continue at 60 km/h to 80 km/h. Alpine temperatures are around -4 °C. Freezing level rising to near 500 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with snowfall, up to 1 to 5 cm of accumulation. Southerly winds continue at 60 km/h to 80 km/h. Alpine temperatures are around -6 °C. Freezing level 500 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with snowfall, up to 5 cm of accumulation. Southerly winds continue at 60 km/h to 80 km/h. Alpine temperatures are around -6 °C. Freezing level 500 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.

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.