Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 13th, 2023 3:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs.

Avalanche Canada dboucher, Avalanche Canada

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Developing storm slabs will remain sensitive to avalanche triggering throughout Saturday, particularly in downwind accumulation areas, on steep slopes and convex rolls,

With the end of precipitation and settling, conditions will stabilize a little more for Sunday.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity has been observed or reported.

More and more relevant information is shared by users with the Mountain Information Network. Thank you for contributing to the collection of this valuable data! You can also continue to write to us at info@avalanchequebec.ca.

Snowpack Summary

With the storm, an additional 20 to 30 cm of snow is added to the 20 to 30 cm of low density snow covering the January 2 crust. This crust supports the weight of a skier or snowboarder.

In areas exposed to the winds, there is a variety of surfaces affected by the wind, ranging from soft slabs to hard slabs, as well as sastrugis or the crust directly on the surface.

In general, the height of the snowpack varies from 50 to 100 cm depending on the area and the elevation.

Weather Summary

Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summits.

Synopsis: The passage of a major low pressure system south of Gaspésie will leave significant amounts of snow until Saturday morning. Clearing will follow and sunshine is forecasted for Sunday.

Friday evening and night: Snow at time heavy and blowing snow, 5-15 cm, northeasterly winds 40 to 60 km/h, minimum -10 C, freezing level at valley bottom.

Saturday: Flurries ending in the morning then cloudy, northeasterly winds 20 to 30 km/h, maximum -9 C, freezing level at valley botttom.

Sunday: Sunny, northeasterly winds 40 to 60 km/h, maximum -8 C, freezing level at valley bottom.

Monday: Periods of snow, 5-10 cm, easterly winds 40 to 60 km/h, maximum -5 C, freezing level at valley bottom.

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

NEW: You can also read the avalanche bulletins for the Haute-Gaspésie shore and Murdochville areas.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful to keep storm day fever from luring you out into bigger terrain features.
  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
  • Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Storm slabs are developing on top of a layer of new snow that covers the January 2 melt-freeze crust. This crust constitutes an ideal sliding plane for the upper layers of the snowpack that could lead to a natural avalanches cycle.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Valid until: Jan 14th, 2023 3:00PM

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