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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 24th, 2023–Mar 25th, 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, Littoral, Murdochville.

Winter is hanging on! Several instabilities observed by the field team and reported by skiers on Friday.

Despite the sunshine and mild weather forecast for Saturday, we must let the snowpack stabilize before opting for more challenging objectives.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Several dry loose snow avalanche deposits observed by the field team in the freak and superfreak sector at the Madeleine mines.

A few small dry loose snow avalanches (size 0.5) triggered by the field team in the bouleaux sector at the Madeleine mines.

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

Depending on the sector and altitude, 10 to 25 cm of new snow fell on the Chic-Chocs from Thursday night to Saturday morning. Winds from the south affected the alpine and open terrain, which now has a great deal of spatial variability. In areas protected from the wind, this new snow is resting on a 5 to 15 cm layer of slightly heavier snow. The refreezing crust of March 18, present at all altitudes, is thus buried at 15 to 40 cm depth. Below 500m and on the solar aspects, we find a thin crust of refreeze under these 10 to 15 cm of new snow.The whole rests on a well consolidated central core of increasing density. The base of the snowpack is composed of a loaf of laminated crusts. In general, the height of the snowpack varies from 100 to 120 cm in the valley to 140 to 190 cm at the treeline.

Weather Summary

Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summits.

Synopsis: A ridge of high pressure forms Saturday, bringing clearing and light winds.Friday night and overnight: Cloudy. Wind north, 10 to 20 km/h. Low -8.Saturday: Clearing in the morning. Wind 5 to 15 km/h from the northwest. Max. -2C. Freezing at 600 m. Sunday: Snow. 2 to 5 cm of snow. Wind 20 to 40 km/h from the southeast. Max. -3C. Freezing level at 250 m. Monday: Snow. Wind northeast, 5 to 15 km/h. Maximum 0. Freezing level at 490 m.

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

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Use appropriate sluff management techniques.
  • Watch your sluff: it may run faster and further than you expect.

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.

Loose Dry

Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.