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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 5th, 2023–Feb 6th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Chic-Choc Mountains.

The best snow is definitely below treeline. Higher up, the wind has hardened or even made the snow disappear.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche was reported since last Thursday.

Thanks for contributing to the collection of this valuable data by sharing with other users on the Mountain Information Network or by writing to us directly at [email protected].

Snowpack Summary

With the extreme westerly wind that blew for 2 days, much of the available snow was moved into the alpine and treeline forming new wind slabs. As a result, a great deal of spatial variability is present in windy areas, from wind slabs to wind-affected snow to ice or rock. With the cold temperatures, facets are developing over the January 18 crust and have demonstrated some weaknesses in our tests.In general, the height of the snowpack varies from 70 to 90 cm in the valley to 100 to 150 cm at mid-mountain.

Weather Summary

Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summits.

A weak low-pressure system arriving from the north will pass over the region on Sunday evening and Monday morning and is followed by a high-pressure system bringing good weather until Tuesday.

Sunday evening and night: Light snow showers (1 to 3 cm). Wind northwest 10 to 20 km/h. Low -18.

Monday: Intermittent snow (1 cm). Wind northwest 20 to 30 km/h. High -14.

Tuesday: Sunny. Wind southeast 30 to 50 km/h. High -11.

Wednesday: Snow showers (3 to 4 cm). Wind northwest 40 to 80 km/h. High -8.

For more details, check the Alpine Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.