Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible - Likely
- Size
- 1–2
A wind event on Wednesday has created wind slabs in the alpine and down into tree line.
Avalanche forecast
View on mapJasper
Dec 14 – 15, 2023Avalanche Canada
Archived · expired 3 years ago
Avalanche danger
Sat
Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Highlights
Snow is forecast to fall through Thursday. Before committing to a ski line make sure to test how the snowpack is reacting to this new load and remember there are numerous early season hazards just below the surface.
Avalanche problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2.5
The snow pack is very weak at the bottom. Natural activity has not been observed yet. Keep this on your radar as triggering remains possible with the shallow nature of the overall snowpack.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A few small wind slabs reported at ridge top at Marmot Basin over the past couple of days. Widespread spin drifts were noted off steep rocky terrain due to the strong winds on Wednesday.
Snowpack Summary
The snowpack is 40-60cm deep and is weak and facetted. A surface hoar layer is down 15-20cm below 2300m. Strong winds have stripped exposed alpine and tree-line terrain and created wind-slabs in cross-loaded and lee features.
Weather Summary
The Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
Thursday
Cloudy with scattered flurries.
Accumulation: 5 cm.
Temperature: High -4 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 10-25 km/h.
Freezing level: 1700m
Friday
Cloudy with scattered flurries.
Accumulation: 4 cm.
Temperature: Low -9 °C, High -5 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 20-40 km/h.
Freezing level: 1500m
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid areas where the snow feels stiff and/or slabby.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.