Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 28th, 2023 2:00PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada jfmichaud, Avalanche Canada

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Steady accumulations, light to calm winds and mild temperatures keep the rating low on Wednesday.

Keep in mind that this new snow is resting on a generalized crust that can surprise you both uphill and downhill.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche observations reported or observed.

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Snowpack Summary

Since Saturday, we have received between 10 and 15 cm of new snow. Although we have had a few episodes of moderate southerly winds, these seem to have had little effect on snow distribution and winds have been light since.In the alpine, this new snow rests directly on a crust that supports the weight of a skier, which is slightly more friable in the south. This new snow adheres relatively well to this crust. At the treeline and below, in areas protected from the wind, the new snow rests on a thin refreezing crust, followed by 10 to 20 cm of slightly denser snow that rests on the March 18 crust. The middle of the snowpack is well consolidated, and of increasing density, interspersed with several refreezing crusts from the last few weeks.

Weather Summary

Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summits.

Synopsis: Short ridge of high pressure on Wednesday and arrival of a light low pressure system on ThursdayTuesday evening and night: Partly cloudy, light snow. Wind northwest, 5 to 10 km/h. Low -6.Wednesday: Cloudy, light snow. Wind 5 to 10 km/h from the northwest. Max. -2. Freezing at 550 m.Thursday: Cloudy, chance of snow late in the day. Wind 10 to 30 km/h from the southeast. Max -1. Freezing level at 60 m.Friday: Alternating sun and clouds. Wind southwest, 10 to 20 km/h. High -0.5. Freezing level at 600 m.

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

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Mild temperatures have allowed wind slabs to stabilize, but it would still be possible to find isolated slabs that have not adhered as well to the underlying crust, especially on the less heat-exposed north slopes.

Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 29th, 2023 3:00PM