Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible - Likely
- Size
- 1–3
Moderate Southwest wind and new snow will continue to create windslabs in the alpine and at treeline over the course of the week.
Avalanche forecast
View on mapJasper
Jan 21 – 22, 2016Parks Canada
Archived · expired 11 years ago
Avalanche danger
Thu
Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
Highlights
The snowpack is largely faceted and becoming less supportive, making for difficult travel below treeline. Significant sluffing should be expected in steep terrain which makes group management and terrain selection very important.
Avalanche problems
Loose Dry
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible - Likely
- Size
- 1–2
Loose dry avalanches should be expected in steep terrain, and may entrain significant amounts of snow in gully features.
Weather Forecast
10cm of snow expected throughout the week in a series of light flurries. This snow will be accompanied by moderate Southwest winds. Temperatures expected to rise gradually, reaching a high of -2C in the alpine on Friday, then cooling. Freezing levels will reach 2100m on Friday then drop.
Snowpack Summary
Pockets of wind slab can be found in exposed terrain treeline and above. Recent 10cm of new snow has helped to freshen things up a bit, but along with moderate Southwest winds has increased the likelihood of touchy new wind slabs on lee aspects. Midpack is weak below treeline due to faceting.
Avalanche Summary
Field team ski cut a size 2 loose dry avalanche in steep terrain that ran 400m and entrained snow. This avalanche condition should be expected in steep terrain at treeline and below.