Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Unlikely - Possible
- Size
- 1–2
Cold temperatures and hard slab conditions make triggering less likely. Triggering from shallow spots remains a possibility.
Avalanche forecast
View on mapJasper
Jan 3 – 4, 2017Parks Canada
Archived · expired 10 years ago
Avalanche danger
Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Highlights
Ice-climbers need to be vigilant this week particularly if climbing in the Mt. Cirrus area. A couple of slabs were noted above the climbs but they did not crest the wall.
Avalanche problems
Persistent Slabs
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–3
This layer will weaken with cold temperatures. Weak facets continue to develop above and below the November crust found 20-40cm above the ground.
Loose Dry
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2
Arctic temperatures faceting the surface snow causing it to loose cohesion and release loose dry avalanches in steep alpine rocky terrain. Some have enough mass to be concern particularly to ice-climbers in confined terrain.
Weather Forecast
Temperatures and winds remain arctic like. Expect light N winds, no new snow, and clear skies for the next three days.
Snowpack Summary
Surface snow is facetting with the arctic temps and loosing internal cohesion. Southerly slopes in the alpine have been stripped by previous SW winds with hard slab on lee features. At treeline, the snow is faceted that is barely supportive and weak in shallow areas.
Avalanche Summary
Good visibility Jan 2 highway patrol. Several loose dry avalanches up to size 2 on steep alpine rocky terrain all aspects. 4 slabs up to size 2.5 noted on Mt. Cirrus above polar circus ice climb. They did not crest the wall but critical for ice climbers to take these into consideration. 1 icefall on Athabasca glacier did not initiate a slab below.
Confidence
The weather pattern is stable