Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–3
Previously formed slabs now comprise the upper and mid-pack in many locations. Natural and human triggered avalanches are possible.
Avalanche forecast
View on mapJasper
Feb 11 – 12, 2016Parks Canada
Archived · expired 11 years ago
Avalanche danger
Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
Highlights
High freezing levels, warm temperatures, strong UV inputs and poor overnight recovery have created moist snow below 2300m. This increases the likelihood of natural and human triggered avalanches, particularly in the afternoon.
Avalanche problems
Loose Wet
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 1–2
Warm temperatures and poor overnight recovery have promoted widespread natural activity at lower elevations during the late afternoon.
Weather Forecast
Now until Friday, freezing level will hover around 1800m, temperatures will be seasonal -3 to -6C. Expect freeze thaw conditions. Mixed clouds and trace of snow rest of the week.
Snowpack Summary
Tuesday's warm temperatures softened alpine surface snow and weakened lower elevations snowpack making for moist/wet conditions. Slabs will persist at tree-line and above on North-Easterly aspects below ridge crests and cross-loaded terrain. The mid-pack is facetted, new snow interface is a concern along with a decomposed surface hoar down 40cm.
Avalanche Summary
Warm temperatures induced a natural avalanche cycle on Tuesday late afternoon. Size 3's noted in the alpine and size 2's at lower elevations. Highway 93 was subsequently closed in the late afternoon. Control work on Wednesday produced loose wet avalanches to size 2 that crossed the highway and wet slabs that showed propagation up to 100m across.