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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 20th, 2022–Apr 21st, 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, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.

Regions

Yukon.

The snow quality might not be particularly inviting, but the way it is enabling fast, far, and relatively safe travel is a big upside. It's a great time to explore!

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mainly cloudy. Light variable winds shifting northeast.

THURSDAY: A mix of sun and cloud. Light variable winds shifting south. Treeline high temperatures around -3. 

FRIDAY: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow, increasing a bit overnight. Moderate south winds. Treeline high temperatures around -3.

SATURDAY: Cloudy with continuing scattered flurries and 5-10 total cm of new snow. Light rain below about 1300 metres. Moderate southeast winds. Treeline high temperatures around 0 to +1.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported over the past week on the Canadian side of White Pass. Things have been different on the US side with at least one very large natural avalanche as well as some ice falls leaving ice chunks and 4-5m debris piles on the rail line in the afternoon on Saturday and Sunday. 

 

A size 3 cornice-triggered slab avalanche was observed near White Pass last 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 early last week.

Snowpack Summary

A few windblown cm of new snow have added to heavily wind affected surfaces from last week's 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

  • 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.