Wind Slabs
- Alta montaña
- Límite del bosque
- Bajo el límite del bosque
- Probabilidad
- Likely
- Tamaño
- 1–2.5
Wind slab development will continue with moderate to strong SW winds. Expect wind slabs to be reactive to a riders weight.
Weak facets below new snow and wind slabs are making for dangerous avalanche conditions. Conservative terrain choices advised through the weekend.
Icefields Parkway and Maligne Lake road remain closed for maintenance - AB511 for up to date info.
Wind slab development will continue with moderate to strong SW winds. Expect wind slabs to be reactive to a riders weight.
A persistent slabs sit over 2 different layers depending on elevation. Below 1950m, the persistent weak layer is the Dec 1 rain crust. Above 1950m, facets buried on Dec 26 are the primary concern.
Watch for overhead pillows or full ledges where loose snow will accumulate.
Several large wind slabs, persistent slabs and loose dry avalanches initiated all asp and elev with explosive control on the Icefields Parkway and Maligne road on Thursday. Road clearing ongoing and will take time for both roads to be passable. Many avalanches picked up and entrained much of our faceted mid pack especially at tree line and below.
Saturday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Temp High -5 C. Wind SW 20 gust 65 km/h. FZL valley bottom
Sunday: Scattered flurries up to 5cm. Temps: Low -9 C, High -6 C. Wind W 20 km/h. FZL valley bottom
Monday: Flurries up to 7cm. Temp: Low -13 C, High -3 C. Wind W 20 gust 65 km/h. Freezing level 1600m.
New snow with strong SW are creating wind effect and building wind slabs on leeward slopes. These winds slabs are are not bonding well with the previously faceted surface. The mid snowpack is faceted with the December persistent weak layers buried 40-70cm. Basal facets and depth hoar can be found at the base of snowpack.