Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 29th, 2023 2:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
jfmichaud,
Avalanche Canada
With the light winds of the last few days, snow is still available for transport on the summits and alpine plateaus.
This could herald the return of our famous wind slabs as early as Thursday morning, even before the snow arrives on the Chic-Chocs.
So watch for signs of recent loading, especially near alpine peaks and ridges and in cross-loaded areas.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche observations reported or observed.
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Snowpack Summary
By Thursday afternoon, a light snow will begin to add to the 10 to 15 cm of new snow received since Saturday. The wind, which has been rather calm for the past few days, will increase in strength with the arrival of the low pressure system and could start to move the snow in the alpine and expose the crust on the windward slopes. This crust, which supports the weight of a skier, is slightly more friable in the south and very firm in the north. At and below the treeline, in areas protected from the wind, the new snow rests on a refreezing crust, followed by 10 to 20 cm of slightly denser snow. The crust is much less noticeable on the polar slopes.The middle of the snowpack is well consolidated, and of increasing density, interspersed with several crusts of refreeze from the last few weeks.
Weather Summary
Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summits.
Synopsis: Arrival of a low pressure system from the Great Lakes on Thursday bringing snow and increased winds. Wednesday evening and night: Mostly cloudy. Wind 10 to 30 km/h from the south. Low -10. Thursday: Alternating sun and clouds, then cloudiness and snow in the afternoon and evening, 5 to 10 cm total. Wind 10 to 30 km/h from the south veering northwest 20 to 40 km/h in the afternoon. Max -1. Freezing level at 315m.Friday: Alternating sun and clouds. Wind west 10 to 20 km/h. High -3. Freezing level at 30m.Saturday: Snow. Wind southeast 30 to 50 km/h. Maximum -1. Freezing level at 400m.
For more details, see the Chic-Chocs alpine forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
- Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
Problems
Wind Slabs
With the near absence of wind over the past few days, there is still plenty of snow available for transport in the mountains. Increasing winds from the south and then northwest could begin to load and form wind slabs on the leeward slopes overnight Wednesday and during the day Thursday. Avalanche danger will increase throughout the day as precipitation arrives and winds increases. It will also depend on the amount of precipitation that actually falls...
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 30th, 2023 3:00PM
