Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 1–3
Severe SW winds have stripped, and transported snow from many areas in the alpine and treeline.
Avalanche forecast
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Feb 24 – 25, 2021
Archived · expired 6 years ago
Avalanche danger
Thu
Fri
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
Highlights
That warm feeling on your face at the end of the day is the first sign of spring!
The snowpack is feeling that effect too, be aware of overhead hazards that may be triggered by that solar warming. Ice Climbers, beware!
Avalanche problems
Loose Dry
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 1–2
Loose dry, spindrift avalanches remain a problem for ice climbers
Deep Persistent Slabs
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Unlikely - Possible
- Size
- 1.5–3
Caution in thin snowpack areas where triggering is more likely. This is a low probability but high consequence problem.
Weather Forecast
Tonight: Clear periods. Low -18 C.
Wednesday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Precipitation: Trace. Alpine temperature: High -14 C. Ridge wind southwest: 20-40 km/h.
Thursday: Flurries. Accumulation: 7 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -13 C, High -9 C. Ridge wind southwest: 25 km/h gusting to 60 km/h.
Snowpack Summary
Moderate to strong ridge top winds from the SW have created wind slabs or hard surface conditions in alpine and tree line features. In sheltered areas the top 30-60cm is faceted snow over a supportive mid-pack where the snowpack is deeper. Thin snowpack areas are weak, un-supportive, and facetted.
Avalanche Summary
Avalanche control on the Icefields Parkway Monday produced results up to size 3 in the Parkers Ridge zone. Late afternoon activity noted, pockets of loose wet, triggered from steep W aspect. Likely the result of isolated sun and 'greenhouse effect', warming in the Wilson zone.