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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 16th, 2022–Apr 17th, 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.

Light flurries overnight probably won't be enough to form a serious new wind slab problem for Sunday, but monitor new snow amounts and reactivity as you gain elevation to be sure.

Check out the newest forecaster blog if you are thinking of checking off big spring objectives.

Confidence

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with light flurries bringing about 5 cm of new snow. Light northeast winds.

SUNDAY: Mainly cloudy with diminishing flurries and another 1-3 cm of new snow. Light northeasterly winds. Treeline high temperatures around -13.

MONDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Moderate to strong northeast winds. Treeline high temperatures around -9.

TUESDAY: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Light east winds. Treeline high temperatures around -7.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Thursday or Friday. 

 

A size 3 cornice-triggered slab avalanche was observed near White Pass on Tuesday. This avalanche occurred on an east aspect in the alpine.

Several small human-triggered wind slabs (size 1) were reported during the outflow wind event on Monday and Tuesday.

Looking forward, forecast light new snow and wind could form a small wind slab problem to manage on Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

About just over 5cm of new snow should accumulate in the region overnight Saturday through Sunday afternoon. This will bury mainly hard, wind affected surfaces from recent strong northerly winds.

On south and west facing slopes up to 1400 m a surface crust from spring sunshine can be found, while other aspects hold dry snow. The mid-snowpack is generally strong, overlying weak basal facets at the base of the snowpack. 

Check out this MIN report for an overview of current conditions in the Fraser area. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.