Be careful in areas recently loaded by the wind. If snowfall is heavier than expected, adjust your assessment and decisions accordingly.
The new snow will be blown by westerly and then northwesterly winds to form new wind-blown slabs on leeward slopes. These may rest on older, thicker slabs that are more difficult to trigger, but have a greater potential to trigger larger avalanches.
No new avalanches reported or observed.
If you are out in the backcountry, please share your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
In the alpine and at the treeline, the windward slopes tend to be free of snow or on hard-packed snow. On leeward slopes, on the other hand, snow distribution is highly variable. There are fresh snow, soft wind slabs as well as hard slabs, and wind-compacted sections.
Below the tree line and in areas protected from the wind at the tree line, there is between 10 and 30 cm of powder, depending on the area. The middle of the snowpack appears to be fairly stable (snowpack consolidation), although some facetted grains are developing near the crusts at the base of the snowpack. Snow depth at mid-mountain varies between 90 and 130 cm.
WEATHER FOR THE CHIC-CHOCS RIDGES AND SUMMITS
The passage of the low brings us a little more snow, particularly west of the Chic-Chocs.
Monday evening and night: Snow 3 to 5 cm. Wind becoming westerly 20 to 40 km/h. Low -16.
Tuesday: Snow, 3 to 5 cm. Wind northwest 30 to 50 km/h. High -15.
Wednesday: Alternating sun and clouds. Wind northwest 20 to 40 km/h. High -20.
Thursday: Intermittent snow. Wind southwest 20 to 30 km/h. High -11.
For more details, see the Chic-Chocs alpine weather forecast.
