Even though the new wind slabs are isolated, they rest on a crust that provides an excellent sliding layer, and is making mountain travel difficult.
New isolated wind slabs could form in laterally loaded areas and under terrain convexities. These will rest on a crust that could create an excellent sliding layer.
A natural avalanche estimated to be size 1.5 was observed in the Bol de Toilette, near the Grande-Cuve. It was 24 to 48 hours old. It is a wind slab avalanche that slid on the March 21 crust.
If you are out in the backcountry, please share your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
Tuesday morning, in areas sheltered from the wind, we could find 5 to 10 cm of new snow that are covering a very firm crust formed on March 21st.
In the alpine and at the tree line, there is little snow on all slopes, except on the east and southeast-facing slopes. There are pockets of accumulation that can reach up to 25 cm on the crust in areas of maximum loading.
At mid-mountain, the snowpack thickness ranges from 60 to 150 cm.
A depression coming from the Great Lakes is bringing some snow by tomorrow.
Monday evening and night: Snow 5 to 10 cm. South wind at 20 to 40 km/h. Minimum -9.
Tuesday: Cloudy. Snow showers, accumulation of 2 to 4 cm. Southwest wind at 10 to 20 km/h. Maximum -1. Freezing level at 480 m.
Wednesday: Cloudy. South wind at 10 to 20 km/h. Maximum 0. Freezing level at 560 m.
Thursday: Cloudy. Light northwest wind. Maximum -2. Freezing level at 375 m.
For more details, see the Chic-Chocs alpine weather forecast.
