Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible - Likely
- Size
- 1–2
Moderate to strong westerly winds have led to the development of windslabs on lee and cross loaded features.
Avalanche forecast
View on mapJasper
Feb 16 – 17, 2015Parks Canada
Archived · expired 12 years ago
Avalanche danger
Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
1 · Low
Highlights
http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/scond/Cond_E.asp?oID=19299&oPark=100092For specific comments on the opening of Whistler and Portal Creek on Monday - go to the snowpack discussion within the forecast details section.
Avalanche problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–4
This layer has become more reactive with the recent weather. The weight of skiers, a cornice collapse or surface slides could be enough to trigger these deep and destructive avalanches.
Weather Forecast
Colder conditions, little in the way of precipitation and light NW winds should do little to change the present avalanche hazard. With all the wild swings in temperature and precipitation types this winter, the snowpack is a complex layer of slabs, crusts, old surface hoar and facets which demands respect from those venturing into the mountains.
Snowpack Summary
Whistler and Portal Creek are open on Monday but tourers should be mindful that this area has seen no ski traffic and only limited field observations. Given the complexity of the snowpack and the occurrence of some very large avalanches, back-country travelers are advised to be conservative in their choice of terrain throughout the forecast area.
Avalanche Summary
There has been a natural avalanche cycle in the last 48 hours with numerous size 2 and 3 slab avalanches at treeline and alpine elevations, many stepping down to the early season basal facets/crust layer. The most notable slide was a full path size 3.5 on the South Churchill Slide path whose crown wall extended for over 800m.