Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 4th, 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.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Flurries will continue to Wednesday with potentially total accumulations of 9mm of precipitation. Not a game changer. Alpine winds will blow Westerly at 75km/hr but 25km/hr at 1500m. Freezing level will be 1300m by Tuesday afternoon with a downward temperature trend of a few degrees colder every day after that. Alpine temperatures -7 to -11.

Snowpack Summary

A trace to 10cm locally at Big Bend covers the previous hard wind slab in exposed alpine and treeline features. Lower elevations are generally faceted and poor travel. Thin wind slabs will continue to form in immediate lee features with moderate to strong Westerly wind transport especially with this new snow and a little bit more expected.

Avalanche Summary

Significant slab avalanche activity has not been noted for sometime. The trend appears to be an increased potential for cornice failures, low to mid elevation solar releases, and increased activity on South aspects related to when the sun impacts the terrain.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain on Tuesday

Problems

Wind Slabs

Hard persistent windslabs may be triggered from thin snowpack areas. Thin wind slabs are forming in immediate lee areas above treeline with the small amount of new snow.

Carefully evaluate and use caution around thin snowpack areas.Avoid 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 5th, 2013 4:00PM