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Avalanche Forecast

Feb 2nd, 2013–Feb 3rd, 2013
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Jasper.

Temperatures remain unseasonably warm. When the sun comes out, expect temperatures to spike and increasing the avalanche danger. 

Weather Forecast

Sunday to Tuesday will be a mix of clouds, sun, and lite flurries. Temperatures will be slightly cooler on Sunday, warmer on Monday, then trending cooler after that. Freezing level will continue to hover around 1500m by mid-day.

Snowpack Summary

Hard wind slabs exist in exposed lee features yet appear to be bridging well. Mid-pack is faceted at lower elevations making for poor travel and difficult trail-breaking. Persistent hard slab and sastrugi widespread above treeline. Thin wind slabs are forming in immediate lee features with continuing moderate to strong SW to NW winds.

Avalanche Summary

Saturday had a couple loose sz 1's at valley bottom Coleman cliffs running to the highway shoulder. This was solar and warm air influenced. On Friday, a large cornice fell on 45+ degree east facing alpine slope and did not trigger any weakness.  No other avalanches were observed on Friday's patrol Parkway, Whistler Creek and Maligne Road.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Hard windslabs may be triggered from thin snowpack areas.  Thin wind slabs are forming in immediate lee areas above treeline with continued moderate to strong Southwest to Northwest 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