Saturday promises to be a great day for spring skiing. However, it's important to pay attention to how the snow reacts to rising temperatures and solar radiation. If the snow becomes too moist, it's best to change aspect or slope.
If temperatures warm up sufficiently on Saturday, small, wet loose avalanches could occur in areas where powder snow was still present on the surface. These avalanches could slide on a melt-freeze crust buried between 10 and 20 cm deep.
No new avalanche observed or reported.
If you are heading into the backcountry, please share your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
In the alpine and at treeline, conditions vary greatly between different aspects, but especially between different mountains. We find either surface rock, ice, crusted snow or wind-hardened snow accumulations.
Below treeline, in areas protected from wind and sun, we can still find 10 to 20 cm of powder.
The middle of the snowpack consists of alternating well-consolidated snow and melt-freeze crusts. At mid-mountain, the depth of the snowpack varies from 60 to 180 cm.
Saturday will be a beautiful sunny day, with light winds and mild temperatures.
Friday evening and night: A few clouds. Light north-westerly winds from 5 to 15 km/h. Low -6. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Saturday: Sunny. Calm winds. Maximum +5. Freezing level at 1200 m.
Sunday: Cloudy. Light easterly winds. High +4. Freezing level at 1100 m.
Monday: Alternating sun and clouds. Northeast winds, 20 to 40 km/h. High +4. Freezing level at 1000 m.
For more details, read the Chic-Chocs alpine weather forecast.
