Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Tutshi, Wheaton, White Pass East, White Pass West, Yukon.
Conservative route selection on simple terrain with no overhead hazard is recommended.
Expect as winds increase to strong that deeper wind slab will begin to form on leeward aspect terrain
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
On Friday large and very large (size 2-3) natural and explosive-triggered avalanches were observed along the Klondike highway corridor.
On Wednesday and Thursday our field team observed size 1-2 storm slab avalanches and experienced whumpfing. See photo below.
Check out this MIN report from last week.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 70 cm of snow fell in the alpine last week, with rain forming a crust below 1100 m. Most of the snowfall occurred near White Pass, with significantly less in the Wheaton and Tutshi areas. The storm snow may bond slowly, as it rests on a base of weak facets and, in some isolated areas, on surface hoar.
A persistent weak layer consisting of a crust with 20 cm of facetted snow above it is buried 60 to 90 cm, and extends up to 1700 m. Some storm slabs last week stepped down to this crust, triggering large avalanches.
Total snow depths are around 100–180 cm at treeline.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Cloudy with snow beginning in the evening 10 to 25 cm. 60 to 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C.
Tuesday
Cloudy with snow 5 to 15 cm, with precipitation amounts becoming less the further you go inland. 50 to 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with afternoon clearing. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Thursday
Clearing. 20 to 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
- Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Remote triggering is a concern; avoid terrain where triggering overhead slopes is possible.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Recent snowfall of up to 70 cm and an additional 25 cm overnight will continue to develop deeper storm slabs. Expect as winds increase to strong that wind slab will begin to form on leeward aspect terrain
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3
Persistent Slabs
A layer of facets over a crust buried 60 to 90 cm deep and if triggered will likely produce large avalanches. As new storm snow accumulates, storm slabs may trigger and step down to the weak layer.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3