Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 14th, 2023 2:30PM

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

Avalanche Canada bwillard, Avalanche Canada

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Wind and snow transport continue to favour the creation of wind slabs. Investigations over the past few days suggest that the storm left a thick crust and little snow in the southern sectors of the forecast area. Skinning and skiing quality is better in northern sectors.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Early season, observations are limited. Thanks for sharing your observation through the Mountain Information Network if you head out.

No new avalanches have been observed or reported. Please share your observations at bulletin@avalanchequebec.ca or via the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

10 to 20 cm of snow covers the December 11 crust. There are 10 cm of facets between the two crusts. The November 28 crust is between 20 and 40 cm deep, resting on mixed layers of melt-freeze snow in the south of the forecast region and on facets in the north. The height of the snowpack varies between 30 and 70 cm, depending on altitude and wind loading.

Weather Summary

Synopsis: Temperatures will warm up over the next few days, and on Sunday there will probably be an inversion in the mountains. We'll continue to have moderate westerly winds, and we should have some sunshine by the weekend.

Thursday evening and night: Cloudy. Moderate south-westerly winds of 20 to 30 km/h. Temperatures rising from -15 to -6 overnight.

Friday: Mostly cloudy. Wind west, 20 to 30 km/h. High -3, low -6.

Saturday: Sunny. Wind northwest, 30 to 40 km/h. High -10.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy. Wind southwest, 30 to 40 km/h. Inversion, warmer at higher altitude. High 0.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Moderate south-westerly and westerly winds favour the growth of wind patches. Snow transport is present in the alpine and at the treeline. Tests showed fracture initiation in the less dense snow layer on the December 11 crust.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 15th, 2023 3:00PM

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