The new snow and strong west winds have likely formed wind slabs reactive to skier traffic in the upper parts of slopes and below convexities. Travel cautiously and avoid areas where snow has accumulated due to wind.
With the new snow and strong west winds, new reactive wind slabs have formed on northeast to southeast aspects. They have been deposited over older, more stubborn slabs. The new slabs range from 10 to 40 cm in thickness.
No new avalanches have been observed or reported.
If you head into the backcountry, thanks for sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
We have received between 5 and 10 cm since Tuesday evening.
In the alpine and at treeline, conditions are highly variable, with wind-hardened snow, pockets of powder, wind slabs of varying densities, and areas scoured down to bare ground, particularly on west- and south-facing slopes.
Below treeline, 20 to 40 cm of light snow overlies a progressively denser snowpack, down to basal weak layers of faceted grains and depth hoar.
On solar aspects, a sun crust is present 5 to 30 cm below the surface.
At mid-elevation, the average snowpack depth is around 130 cm.
WEATHER FOR THE CHIC-CHOCS RIDGES AND PEAKS
A high-pressure system will move across Gaspésie on Thursday, bringing clearing skies and colder temperatures.
Wednesday evening and night: Partly cloudy. Northwest wind 30–50 km/h. Low -23°C.
Thursday: Sunny. Northwest wind 20–40 km/h. High -18°C.
Friday: Sunny. Southwest wind 10–30 km/h. High -7°C.
Saturday: Intermittent rain beginning around midday. Total accumulation around 10 mm. Southwest wind 50–70 km/h. High +2°C. Freezing level rising to 2,700 m.
For more details, see the Chic-Chocs alpine weather forecast.
