Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 10th, 2024 2:30PM

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

Avalanche Canada dboucher, Avalanche Canada

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The storm left less snow than expected. However, reactive storm slabs remain possible in accumulation zones such as couloirs, depressions and ravines in the alpine.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche was reported or observed. If you go into the backcountry, thanks for sharing your observations at bulletin@avalanchequebec.ca or on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

The storm has left a thin 5-10 cm so far, with possibly an additional 5 cm overnight. Thus, 20-40 cm of snow overlies a thick widespread melt-freeze crust or sits directly on the ground. The highest quantities of new snow will be found in accumulation zones on leeward western slopes in the alpine such as couloirs, depressions and ravines. The eastern slopes will probably have been swept down to crust or rock. Access remains very challenging and hazardous due to thin snow coverage. In most areas, the snowpack is below the threshold for avalanches. The height of the snow varies between 20 and 65 cm.

Weather Summary

Synopsis: After the storm, a cold front will pass through the region on Thursday, followed by a high pressure building for Friday and another storm for Saturday.

Wednesday evening and night: Snow at times heavy, 2-4 cm, winds becoming southwest 30 to 50 km/h, alpine temperature -2 C, freezing level at 400 m.

Thursday: Cloudy, no precipitation, southwesterly winds 20 to 30 km/h, alpine temperature dropping to reach -10 C.

Friday: Sunny, no precipitation, northwesterly winds 30 to 40 km/h, alpine temperature -15 C.

Saturday: Snow, 5-15 cm, southeasterly winds 50 to 70 km/h, alpine temperature on the rise to reach -4 C.

For more details, check out the most recent alpine weather forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

Reactive storm slabs are possible in preferential accumulation zones such as couloirs, ravines and depressions in the alpine.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Jan 11th, 2024 3:00PM