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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 1st, 2022–Apr 2nd, 2022

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.

Regions

Yukon.

Carefully assess the wind slab hazard as you gain elevation. Increasing winds will quickly redistribute loose snow. 

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

Friday night: Cloudy with flurries, up to 5 cm snow. Moderate increasing to strong southwesterly wind. Ridgetop low -10 C.

Saturday: Cloudy and unsettled with light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Moderate to strong southeast winds. Ridgetop high of -3 C.

Sunday: Stormy, 5-15 cm of new snow. Strong southeasterly winds. Ridgetop high of -5 C.

Monday: Flurries, another 5 cm expected by morning. Southerly wind decreasing quickly. Ridgetop high of -2 C.

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday our field team observed natural dry loose avalanches on all aspects to size 1.5. While in the field they also observed wind transport and new wind slab formation.

Snowpack Summary

Wind has redistributed snow into pressed surfaces and pockets of windslab at treeline and higher. At lower elevations a crust can be found up to 1200 m and higher elevations on solar aspects.

The middle of the snowpack is reported to be strong and well settled with facetted snow near the ground. Take note, cornices are large and looming.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

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.

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.