Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 1st, 2023–Jan 2nd, 2023

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

Regions

Yukon, Tutshi, Wheaton, White Pass East, White Pass West.

New snow, mild temperatures and southerly winds have built fresh wind slabs in lees.

Use caution when transitioning into wind-affected areas. Carefully assess the bond between new slabs and the underlying surfaces.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported recently but we suspect that wind slabs are reactive to human-triggering.

Continue to support your backcountry community and please consider submitting a MIN report.

Snowpack Summary

20-30 cm and moderate southerly winds have built deep pockets of windslab in open areas.

In the mid-pack, down around 50 to 70cm, it could be possible to find a thin layer of facets between old wind slabs. This layer recently produced sudden results in snowpack tests.

The height of the snowpack is variable. In areas lee of the prevailing wind, depths of up to 170cm can be found. At the lower elevation treeline terrain, snow depths decrease and are estimated at 60-90 cm.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Cloudy with snow, 10-15 cm expected at White pass. Ridgetop winds southerly 40 to 60 km/h. Low of -6 at 1500m.

Monday

Mainly cloudy with flurries, 2 to 4 cm accumulation expected at White Pass.  Ridgetop winds southerly 40 to 60 km/h. High of -5 at 1500m.

Tuesday

Cloudy with light flurries bringing a few centimeters of new snow. Southerly 40 to 60 km/h winds shift to easterly 20 km/h. High of -6 at 1500m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with light flurries, trace accumulation. Southeasterly winds 20 km/h. High of -8 at 1500m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind exposed terrain.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.

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.