Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 13th, 2023–Apr 14th, 2023

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Alpine

Below Threshold.

Treeline

Below Threshold.

Below Treeline

Below Threshold.

Regions

Chic-Choc Mountains, Littoral, Murdochville.

Cooler temperatures and windy conditions are expected Friday.

The spring conditions icon is now replacing the avalanche danger rating.

Be aware that significant change is possible in a matter of hours due to variable freezing levels and air temperature.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Thursday, small loose wet avalanches were observed on steep south-easterly alpine slopes on Mont Albert. Old evidence of larger loose wet avalanches (up to size 2) was also observed in the same vicinity.

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Snowpack Summary

The warm weather, rain, and lack of significant refreeze at night have greatly affected snow conditions on all aspects and at all elevations. Wet snow can be found at the surface (and up to 30 cm deep), making travel conditions rather sticky and slow (mashed potatoes snow), especially at treeline and below. In the alpine, a slight melt-freeze cycle occurred, generating corn snow conditions even on northern slopes. Melting is happening fast and the height of snow varies from 50 cm (valley) to 130 cm (mid-mountain).

Weather Summary

Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summits.

Synopsis: A new ridge of high-pressure building over northern Quebec and Labrador will support mainly sunny skies, above-freezing temperatures and moderate northwest winds.Thursday evening and night: Cloudy. Light rain/snow. Strong northwest wind gusting 70 km/h. Alpine low of -5 C. Freezing level lowers to 700 m. Friday: A mix of sun and clouds. No precipitation. Moderate northwest wind, gusting 50 km/h. Alpine high of -4 C. Freezing level around 700 m, but lowering to the valley bottom at night.Saturday: Sunny with cloudy periods. No precipitation. Light southwest at 15 km/h. Alpine high of +1. Freezing level rises to 1000 m during the day and up to 2000 m at night.

Sunday: Cloudy with sunny periods. No precipitation. Moderate southwest wind, gusting 40 km/h. Alpine high of +6 C. Freezing level steady around 2500 m.

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

Terrain and Travel Advice

The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.