Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
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Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Numerous natural wet loose avalanches, up to size 1, as well as cornice breaks, were observed in the alpine on Monday.
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Snowpack Summary
Following the last two days of continuous temperatures above the freezing level, the snowpack is soaked at all elevations, and snow conditions are rather sticky and slow (mashed potato snow). The best chances of finding the classic corn snow are on the polar slopes. In the absence of overnight refreeze, the snowpack becomes progressively more fragile, wetter and less cohesive, and the forecasted rain will only accentuate that, as well as weakening the cornices. The melting is fast and the snow cover varies from 40 cm (valley) to 115 cm (mid-mountain).
Weather Summary
Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summits.
Synopsis: A deep low pressure system will leave 20 to 25 mm of rain over the next three days.
Monday evening and night: Cloudy. Rain. Winds from 60 to 70 km/h from the south. Min. +3C. Freezing level at 3250 m.
Tuesday: Rain up to 9 mm. Winds around 60 km/h from the southeast, easing off to 40 in the afternoon. Max. +3C. Freezing level at 1700 m.
Wednesday: Mix of rain and snow. Winds from 20 to 30 km/h from the northwest. Max. 0C.
Thursday: Cloudy. Light rain. Winds around 25 km/h from the northwest. Max. -2C.
For more details, see the Chic-Chocs alpine forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
- If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Problems
Loose Wet
The mild temperatures, the absence of refreezing at night, as well as the expected rain destabilize the snowpack and create small wet loose snow avalanches, especially on steep terrain. Keep in mind that wet avalanches can easily push you into undesirable obstacles or terrain traps.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Spring weather is favorable to cornices falls. Even a small cornice can be destructive and harmful. As they are unpredictable, be sure to stay well away from them at all times.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wet Slabs
The rain forecasted for the next few days will fall on an already weakened snowpack. Although the possibility of an avalanche being triggered is low, the consequences of such an avalanche would be enormous. These types of avalanches are much more difficult to predict than loose wet avalanches and involve deeply buried layers in the mid and lower snowpack.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 18th, 2023 3:00PM
