Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 15th, 2022 2:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
dboucher,
Avalanche Canada
The avalanche danger rating is low because the snow cover remains minimal at the beginning of the season. Small isolated lee slopes in the alpine and cross loaded areas at treeline could however present an increased danger and should be to watch. Getting out on the mountain? We need your observations! https://www.avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity has been observed or reported. Please share your observations at info@avalanchequebec.ca, or with the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
In the end, the storm earlier this week have left between 15 and 30 cm of snow depending on the areas and elevation. Strong to extreme northeasterly winds have redistributed the new snow, exposing facing slopes to rock or crust and accumulating up to 100 cm in sheltered leeward areas. Surface wind slabs are fairly firm in the alpine and much softer at treeline. Despite the influx of new snow, snow conditions remain minimal. The crust and obstacles such as rocks, stumps, trees and trunks are barely covered and just waiting for you to leave beautiful marks on your skis or board, or to catch your shins.
Weather Summary
Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summits.
A ridge of high pressure is keeping clouds and mostly dry conditions for Friday.
Thursday night: Cloudy, Easterly winds 20 to 40 km/h, minimum -5 C, freezing level at valley bottom.
Friday: Cloudy, South-easterly winds 30 to 50 km/h, maximum -3 C, freezing level at valley bottom.
Saturday: Light snow, 1-2 cm, Easterly winds 40 to 60 km/h, maximum -5 C, freezing level at valley bottom.
Sunday: Snow, 5-10 cm, North-easterly winds 30 to 50 km/h, maximum -3 C, freezing level at 350 m.
For more details, check out the Chic-Chocs alpine weather forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
- Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
- Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Isolated wind slabs exist at the top of southwestern slopes in the alpine and in cross loaded areas at treeline. In places, they cover a melt-freeze crust above which facetted grains are developing. This combination constitutes an avalanche-prone sliding plane.
Aspects: South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 16th, 2022 3:00PM
