Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 19th, 2013 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

garth lemke, Parks Canada

Jasper.

The sun came out today yet the air remained relatively cold. Ice climbs are looking good but watch the sun's impact on slopes above. Solar energy will increase possibility of activity incrementally increasing the danger rating in the afternoons.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Wednesday to Thursday will be variable cloud, seasonal temperatures with cold nights, light flurries, and predominately light W winds. Friday may bring 13mm of precipitation, slight warming trend, and 50km/hr SW winds at 1500m and 100km/hr winds at 3000m. The winds could be moving into the zone starting Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

Saturday's 20cm of snow has settled down to 10cm and developed into a thin windslab depending on alpine and treeline wind patterns. Many spots have been stripped down to previous sustrugi and windslab surfaces with windpressed pockets in between. Its looking like it was prior to the storm. Below treeline weak facets dominate.Â

Avalanche Summary

No new naturals were noted Monday and visibility was good. Visibility was excellent for Tuesday's Icefields patrol. Observed only a couple size 1.5 very steep loose avalanches @ 2600m appearing to be solar triggered. One size 2 thin slab was noted at 2700m E aspect on a very steep unsupported feature. They appear to be stopping where angle changes.Â

Confidence

The weather pattern is stable on Wednesday

Problems

Wind Slabs

Saturday's 20cm of snow has evolved into a surface windslab and appears to be bonding well. They sit on a variety of surfaces such as previously smooth hard slab and sastrugi surfaces.

Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.Assess start zones carefully and use safe travel techniques.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Feb 20th, 2013 4:00PM