Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2.5
Moderate to strong south west winds have created firm windslabs in the alpine and exposed treeline slopes.
Avalanche forecast
View on mapJasper
Dec 24 – 25, 2018Parks Canada
Archived · expired 8 years ago
Avalanche danger
Tue
Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
Highlights
Over 100cm of snow has fallen in the Ice Fields region since Dec 11. This is the time to be on high alert when traveling in any avalanche terrain.
Avalanche problems
Persistent Slabs
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible - Likely
- Size
- 1–3.5
This layer now sits under a meter of snow, any terrain that has not had previous activity on this layer should be given a wide berth.
Deep Persistent Slabs
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Unlikely - Possible
- Size
- 1.5–4
Several recent large avalanches have been the result of the entire snowpack failing on or near the ground due to the weak snowpack structure surrounding this interface.
Weather Forecast
Little change expected in over the holidays, forecasted winds will tamper Sunday night as a SW flow will settle in for the next few days. Temperatures will remain cool with daytime alpine highs of -10°c. A detailed mountain weather forecast is available from Avalanche Canada.
Snowpack Summary
Moderate to strong south west winds continue to load lee slopes at tree line and above. The Dec. 11th persistent weak layer has been buried 50 to 100cm and is ripe for human triggering. The deep persistent weakness lingers near the ground.
Avalanche Summary
Recent avalanche control produced consistent size 2 to 2.5 avalanches running to roadside. Previous to the control work, a large natural avalanche cycle occurred primarily failing on the Dec 11 weak layer. Most notably is a large, possibly cornice triggered size 3.5, which ran nearly full run-out, on the Churchill (north and south) slide paths.