Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Dec 26th, 2022 2:45PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
cwild,
Avalanche Canada
The light precipitations of the last two days are adding up to some nice turns below tree line. Aim for the slopes where the forest is a bit thicker, and be aware of the weak snow cover at lower elevations.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity has been observed or reported.
Please continue to share your observations at info@avalanchequebec.ca, or with the Mountain Information Network. It helps strengthen our data gathering.
Snowpack Summary
At lower elevations, 5 to 10 cm of low density snow overlies the crust created by the freezing cycle after the Dec 23rd storm. This crust does not quite support the weight of a skier. As we gain altitude, the crust fades to a slightly denser snow interface, covered by 10 to 20 cm of low density snow. Our tests have shown that the new snow of the past 48 hours does not yet bond well to this storm interface. The alpine, exposed to the strong to extreme winds of recent weather events, is generally back to crust or even bare ground. However, significant amounts of storm snow, and windblown snow, can be found in isolated areas on the N to E aspects.
The average height of the snowpack is still very thin, from about 30 cm in the valley to 80 cm at mid elevations, and extremely variable in different places.
Despite the fresh snow, the snow cover remains weak, especially at lower altitudes. You will have to work a bit to reach the snowier areas, which are, for the moment, below tree line, at higher altitude.
Weather Summary
Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summits. Alternating low and high pressure systems will bring a few more centimetres by Wednesday. Southwest winds are expected and temperatures will remain cold, keeping the freezing level at valley bottom.
Monday evening and night: Partly cloudy. Light precipitation. Southwesterly winds 35-45 km/h in the evening. Min -14C. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Tuesday: Cloudy. Light precipitation. Wind from the west around 30 km/h, increasing in the pm to 40 km/h. Max -12C. Freezing at valley bottom.
Wednesday: Cloudy. 2 cm of snow. Wind from the west, at 45 km/h. Max -14C.
Thursday: Mix of sun and clouds. No precipitation. Wind from 20 to 30 km/h. Max -12C.
For more details, check out the Chic-Chocs alpine weather forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
- Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
- Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs of varying depths have developed in isolated areas on the northwest to east slopes due to sustained winds. Although the wind slabs are at their weakest within 24 hours of their formation, skier triggering is still possible on the Dec 8 crust. The lack of snow in the area may give you very little information and few signs of instability.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Dec 27th, 2022 3:00PM
