Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 1–3
Hard touchy windslab in the alpine and open tree-line features showing very serious potential for wide propagation in connected features.
Avalanche forecast
View on mapJasper
Feb 16 – 17, 2017Parks Canada
Archived · expired 10 years ago
Avalanche danger
Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
Highlights
As delayed access backcountry areas begin to open, proceed with extreme caution as you venture into slopes that have not seen any traffic so far this winter. The snowpack is weak and will be touchy in many areas.
Avalanche problems
Persistent Slabs
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Unlikely - Possible
- Size
- 1–3
Avalanches initiated within the storm snow may step down to deeper layers and in some cases gouging to ground in thin snowpack areas.
Loose Wet
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely - Very Likely
- Size
- 1–2
Rain and warm temperatures expected in valley bottoms.
Weather Forecast
Strong Southwest flow bringing strong winds and light scattered precipitation for the remainder of the week. Freezing levels dropping slowly from 2100m (treeline) to valley bottom along with a cooling trend towards the end of the week. Saturday marks the end of the strong wind along with a clearing trend.
Snowpack Summary
Hard surface windslab in the alpine and open tree-line features. Recent HST in sheltered locations at tree-line and below forming a cohesive soft slab over a faceted mid-pack with only marginal support below tree-line. This is all sitting on a weak base of large facets and depth hoar to create an overall delicate and untrustworthy snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
Field teams in the Columbia Icefield Area report numerous loose wet to size 1.5, not triggering slopes below. Less natural slab activity than expected today.