Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 1–3
Up to 45cm of new snow from Jan 2-4th, warm temperatures and moderate to strong SW winds created windslabs.
Avalanche forecast
View on mapJasper
Jan 7 – 8, 2019Parks Canada
Archived · expired 8 years ago
Avalanche danger
Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
Highlights
The storm snow is starting to settle in yet its still too early to be bold in the terrain. Use caution as localized slab development and analysis will be critically important for safe travel in the back-country.
Avalanche problems
Persistent Slabs
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 1.5–3.5
The new snow has added to the load on the Dec 11th interface. It is buried more than a meter deep in some locations. This layer is strengthening but was active during the storm in shallow snowpack areas.
Deep Persistent Slabs
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 1.5–4
The base of the snowpack is weak and facetted. In shallow snowpack areas the new snow in combination with a skier has the potential to overload this weakness.
Weather Forecast
Monday will be a mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace of snow, alpine high -13 °C, and ridge wind west at 20 km/h gusting to 45 km/h. Tuesday will be mix of sun and cloud, no precipitation, -21 °C to -12 °C, and wind southwest 20 km/h. A detailed mountain weather forecast is available from Avalanche Canada.
Snowpack Summary
Jan 2-4, up to 45cm of snow arrived along the 93N. Moderate-strong SW winds built fresh wind slabs in open terrain. The Dec. 11th layer (surface hoar and facets) persists down 60-150cm, and continues to produce avalanches in shallow snowpack areas.
Avalanche Summary
Jan 5th helicopter control on high and low targets produced numerous avalanches with one being a size 4 at Sunset Pass; burying the Icefields Parkway with significant debris and mature trees.