Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 3rd, 2013 4:00PM

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

garth lemke, Parks Canada

Jasper.

Over the next few days, new snow and winds have the potential to incrementally increase the avalanche danger. This may create a surface instablility where windloading creates thin slabs on prexisting slippery smooth windslab and suncrust surfaces.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A system is making its way inland but only moderate confidence in its prediction for our location, likely expunge its moisture before, and be a dud. Freezing level will be 1000m and could get 5-10cm by Monday evening with another 5-10cm by Wednesday. Alpine winds 80-100km/hr and treeline 40-50km/hr both out of the West.

Snowpack Summary

Expect hard wind slabs in exposed alpine/treeline lee features being the dominate feature. Lower elevations is faceted and generally unsupportive. Thin wind slabs are forming on previous surfaces, such as smooth windslabs or suncrust, with steady moderate to strong Westerly winds transporting the little snow that is available.Â More snow may arrive.Â

Avalanche Summary

No patrol was conducted on Sunday. Saturday a couple loose valley bottom sz 1's at Colemans onto shoulder of highway from solar heat. Friday, a large cornice failure on a 45 + degree east facing alpine slope did not trigger any weakness. No other avalanches were observed on Friday's patrol Parkway, Whistler Creek and Maligne Road.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Problems

Wind Slabs

Hard windslabs may be triggered from thin snowpack areas. Thin wind slabs are forming in immediate lee areas above treeline with what little snow is available and continued moderate to strong Southwest winds.

Carefully evaluate and use caution around thin snowpack areas.Caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

1 - 2

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