Wind Slabs
- Alpin
- Limite forestière
- Sous la limite forestière
- Probabilité
- Possible
- Taille
- 1–2
Forecast wind may build fresh and reactive wind slabs at ridgeline and in exposed terrain features.
Rider triggered slab avalanches are sliding on a buried crust near the base of the snowpack.
Start conservative and watch for signs of instability like cracking or whumpfing.
Forecast wind may build fresh and reactive wind slabs at ridgeline and in exposed terrain features.
Persistent slab avalanches have been reactive to rider triggering. This problem is most likely found in the alpine and at treeline on smooth slopes.
Over the weekend, numerous natural and human-triggered persistent slab avalanches (up to size 2.5) were observed near Invermere. These primarily occurred on north through southeast aspects at treeline and above. Smaller wind slab avalanches could step-down to the basal facets, initiating a larger slab avalanche.
Information is very limited at the moment. Please consider submitting a MIN.
10 to 15 cm of new snow fell over the weekend. In wind-exposed areas cracking and whumping have been reported.
Down 40 to 50 cm sits a layer of surface hoar primarily found on shaded slopes, or on a thin crust on sunny slopes.
A crust exists near the bottom of the snowpack. This crust may have weak, sugary facets on top.
Snowpack depths are reported to be 50-70 cm at treeline elevation.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow. 15 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Tuesday
Cloudy with some clear periods. 15 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Wednesday
A mix of sun and cloud, no new snow. 15 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.