Avalanche Forecast

Low

• We are uncertain about forecast precipitation amounts.
• We are uncertain due to the variability of wind effect on the snowpack.

Although this is outside our forecast area, there appears to be instability in the snowpack along the coast of the Haute-Gaspésie:

https://avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network/submissions/dc97640e-14f0-11f1-9993-0a58a9feac02

https://avalanche.ca/mountain-information-network/submissions/42cd4507-1369-11f1-9844-0a58a9feac02

If you head into the backcountry, thanks for sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

When we passed through the mountains on Saturday, just before the precipitation began, an extreme southwesterly wind was already sweeping across the Madeleine Mines, intensely redistributing the available snow. The same phenomenon was observable at Mount Albert. A wind of this strength generally causes significant spatial variability in mountain snow cover. It is therefore likely that the landscape will have changed markedly by Sunday.

Before the arrival of this low-pressure system, accumulations were already highly variable depending on the area. Since last Monday, the southern part of the zone (Mount Lyall, Hog's Back and Mount Albert) has received 15 to 20 cm of very light snow, while the Madeleine Mines area has recorded more than 30 cm. This snow lay on firm surfaces, even on a crust on sunny slopes in alpine terrain and at the tree line. The western slopes were already largely bare.

In areas sheltered from the wind and below the tree line, this new snow covers a gradually denser snowpack, down to the weak layers of faceted grains and depth hoar present at the base.

At mid-mountain, the average snow depth is approximately 125 cm.

WEATHER FOR THE CHIC-CHOCS RIDGES AND PEAKS

Cold temperatures and north-westerly winds will return with a vengeance on Sunday. A few residual snow showers are possible as the St-Lawrence river is freed of its ice by Saturday's extreme southerly winds.

Saturday evening and night: A few snow showers ending around midnight, 3 to 5 cm. West wind 30 to 70 km/h. Significant cooling, low -19.

Sunday: Alternating sunshine and clouds, light snow in the morning. Northwest wind 30 to 50 km/h. High -20°C.

Monday: Sunny. Northwest wind 30 to 50 km/h. High -19.

Tuesday: Alternating sun and clouds. Southwest wind 30 to 60 km/h. High -6.

For more details, see the Chic-Chocs alpine weather forecast.

• Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
• Strong wind is building wind slabs farther downslope than usual.
• Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.