The avalanche danger rating is low because the snow cover remains minimal at the beginning of the season. Small isolated lee slopes in the alpine and cross loaded areas at treeline could however present an increased danger and should be to watch. Getting out on the mountain? We need your observations! https://www.avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network
Isolated wind slabs exist at the top of southwestern slopes in the alpine and in cross loaded areas at treeline. In places, they cover a melt-freeze crust above which facetted grains are developing. This combination constitutes an avalanche-prone sliding plane.
No new avalanche activity has been observed or reported. Please share your observations at [email protected], or with the Mountain Information Network.
In the end, the storm earlier this week have left between 15 and 30 cm of snow depending on the areas and elevation. Strong to extreme northeasterly winds have redistributed the new snow, exposing facing slopes to rock or crust and accumulating up to 100 cm in sheltered leeward areas. Surface wind slabs are fairly firm in the alpine and much softer at treeline. Despite the influx of new snow, snow conditions remain minimal. The crust and obstacles such as rocks, stumps, trees and trunks are barely covered and just waiting for you to leave beautiful marks on your skis or board, or to catch your shins.
Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summits.
A ridge of high pressure is keeping clouds and mostly dry conditions for Friday.
Thursday night: Cloudy, Easterly winds 20 to 40 km/h, minimum -5 C, freezing level at valley bottom.
Friday: Cloudy, South-easterly winds 30 to 50 km/h, maximum -3 C, freezing level at valley bottom.
Saturday: Light snow, 1-2 cm, Easterly winds 40 to 60 km/h, maximum -5 C, freezing level at valley bottom.
Sunday: Snow, 5-10 cm, North-easterly winds 30 to 50 km/h, maximum -3 C, freezing level at 350 m.
For more details, check out the Chic-Chocs alpine weather forecast.
