Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 14th, 2022 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada wlewis, Avalanche Canada

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Wind direction has varied, expect wind slabs on all aspects. Low elevation winds may have loaded unusual features at treeline. 

Watch for pockets around ridgelines and mid slope features such as cross-loaded gullies. 

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the extreme variability of wind effect on the snowpack.

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Up to 5 cm overnight. Moderate southerly winds. Freezing levels at valley bottom.

TUESDAY: Partly cloudy during the day with up to 3 cm of snow, moderate southwest winds. Freezing level at 500 m. Alpine high of -2. 

WEDNESDAY: Partly cloudy with up to 3 cm of snow, moderate to strong southwest winds. Freezing levels reach 1000 m in the afternoon. Alpine high of -1.

THURSDAY: Flurries continue with moderate southerly winds. Freezing levels return to valley bottom. 

Avalanche Summary

Avalanches to size 1 were observed along the Klondike Highway corridor on south and east aspects. Sensitive wind slabs to size 1.5 were reported in the White Pass area, from the switch to northwest winds.

If you head out into the mountains, please let us know what you see on the Mountain Information Network. 

Snowpack Summary

Around 25 cm of recent snowfall sits over a wind pressed snowpack. Recent winds have varied from southwest to northwest, and redistributed this snow into wind slabs on all aspects at all elevations. On steep, south facing terrain wind slabs may sit over a crust, which is expected to bond slowly.

A secondary crust is buried 20-40cm deep on south facing terrain. This layer have not shown avalanche activity within the last week. 

The lower snowpack is thought to be well protected by the dense layers above, and it is unlikely that avalanches will be triggered on weak, sugary crystals near the ground at this time. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and wind exposure.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Expect wind slabs on all aspects. While slabs are expected to be small, they may be reactive to human triggers as they have formed over a crust on south facing slopes and on hard surfaces elsewhere. 

Avoid steep, unsupported slopes that sound drum-like or hollow. 

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 15th, 2022 4:00PM