Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 25th, 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.

mike eder, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Daily light snow accumulations could be developing soft slabs on high elevation climbing routes on the Western edge of the forecast area. Examples of these areas are the Columbia Icefields as well as the Fryatt and the Tonquin.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Expect to see only light snow flurries combined with sunny periods through to Saturday. Sunday will be increasing clouds with more intense snowfalls Sunday night and through Monday. Temperatures will remain season in the -4 to - 8 C range. Winds remain light from the West at lower elevations.

Snowpack Summary

Most areas above treeline and in the alpine have been wind blasted. Hard slabs are widespread, and provide a strong bridge over any underlying weakness. Below treeline, the snowpack is facetted throughout but no slab overlies this weakness.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed along Highway 93 and Maligne lake road.

Confidence

on Saturday

Problems

Wind Slabs

Hard slabs are widespread and present the only real problem in the snowpack. Although it seems unlikely, it could be possible to trigger an avalanche in a steep pocket with a hard slab. Mostly these slabs are bridging any weakness underneath.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Jan 26th, 2013 4:00PM