Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 11th, 2023 2:30PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet and Wind Slabs.
jfmichaud,
Avalanche Canada
There is a lot of uncertainty about the amount and type of precipitation that will fall on the Chic-Chocs.
In the spring, the danger rating can fluctuate with the changing weather, especially when rain, snow, frost and heat are all present in the same day.
It is very important to be autonomous in your decision making on the mountain and to be attentive to signs of instability.
Summary
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
Several small wet loose snow avalanches observed by the field crew on the steep slopes of the mur des Patrouilleurs on Tuesday.
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Snowpack Summary
The rain on Tuesday night continued to moisten the snowpack at all altitudes, before turning into snow on the summits. In the Alpine, drier snow could be deposited on top of snow that has already been greatly moistened. The layer of wet snow on the surface will be more important with the loss of altitude at and below the treeline. A minimum of 20 to 30 cm of moistened, even wet, snow lies directly on a rather crumbly and increasingly imperceptible refreezing crust. The middle and the base of the snowpack is well consolidated, and of increasing density, interspersed with several crusts of refreezing from the last weeks.
Weather Summary
Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summits.
Synopsis: Passage of a low-pressure system that brings rain and snow to the Chic-Chocs. Tuesday evening and night: Cloudiness, followed by rain (5 to 10 mm), changing to snow. Winds 20 to 40 km/h from the southwest. Low 0. Freezing level from 1200Â m to 700Â m. Wednesday: Snow 5 to 10 cm total. Wind northwest, 30 to 50 km/h. Maximum +1. Freezing level at 500Â m in the morning, rising to 1100Â m by the end of the day. Thursday: Clearing. Wind northwest, 20 to 40 km/h. Maximum +1. Freezing level at 700Â m.Friday: Sunny. Wind northwest, 20 to 40 km/h. High +2. Freezing level at 600Â m.
For more details, see the Chic-Chocs alpine forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
- As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
- A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
Problems
Loose Wet
The precipitation, which is likely to fall more in the form of rain at the foot and mid-mountain, will continue to moisten the snowpack, weakening it. This problem will be isolated on steep terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
If snowfall amounts are greater than expected, we could see a problem of wind slabs appearing on the leeward slopes, particularly under the summit ridges. These will form on wet snow. So it is possible that adhesion will be quite good. However, there are many uncertainties related to this problem, because there are many uncertainties about the type and quantity of precipitation on our summits.
Aspects: East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 12th, 2023 3:00PM
