Wind Slabs
- Alpin
- Limite forestière
- Sous la limite forestière
- Probabilité
- Possible
- Taille
- 1–2
Reverse loading from NE winds have likely created wind slab on non-typical SW aspects in the alpine.
Watch for signs of previous reverse wind loading and dry loose avalanches. Just because it is cold doesn't mean that avalanche can't happen.
Reverse loading from NE winds have likely created wind slab on non-typical SW aspects in the alpine.
The cold temperatures and the clear skies will trigger loose dry avalanches from steep rocky terrain. These avalanches by themselves will be of low risk unless you are in a terrain trap or above a cliff.
You must keep this basal layer on your radar as triggering is possible in isolated features, such as steep rocky terrain where you find yourself standing on the surface and not wallowing in facets, that's the problem slab.
Saturday
Sunny
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: High -25 °C.
Light ridge wind.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Sunday
Sunny with cloudy periods.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: Low -25 °C, High -23 °C.
Light ridge wind.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
The Mountain Weather Forecast is available at Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
Loose dry avalanches to size one from steep rocky terrain were observed across Jasper on Thursday.
Cold temperatures continue to weaken the snowpack. There is a possibility of reverse wind loading from previous NE winds in the alpine. Cold temperatures can cause a wind slab problem to persist longer than normal. Old persistent weak layers are present in the snowpack but continue to facet and are unreactive in snow pit tests.