Wind slabs continue to develop and will be particularly to watch during the weekend. They are found at the top of eastern slopes (NE-E-SE) in the alpine and in cross loaded areas at the treeline. Even small, their triggering by a skier or snowboarder could have serious consequences as a result of an uncontrolled slide on the ice and towards obstacles lower on the slope.
Wind slabs continue to develop with new snow (5-15 cm) and sustained northwesterly winds. They are found at the top of lee slopes in the alpine and in cross loaded areas at the treeline.
A small wind slab avalanche was accidentally triggered by a skier on March 2 on a cross loaded east slope at Mount Craggy in the Mont Blanc area. One person was involved and no serious injuries or consequences were reported. To view the report: https://rb.gy/d5tenu
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Near the summits, the wind has redistributed the available snow, exposing the crust or ice at the surface and creating an overlay of hard wind slabs. In more sheltered areas, the February 17 crust is usually found under 15 to 30 cm of low density snow. Facetted grains are slowly developing on this crust. The middle of the snowpack is well consolidated, with the January 18 crust down 40 to 70 cm below the surface. At the base of the snowpack, there is a bread of laminated crusts with decomposing snow.
In general, the height of the snow cover varies from 70 to 90 cm in the valley to 100 to 150 cm in the middle mountains.
Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summits.
Synopsis: A ridge of high pressure is moving over the region to bring sunshine throughout the weekend.
Friday evening and night: A few clouds, no precipitation, northwesterly winds 30 to 40 km/h, minimum -17 C.
Saturday: Mainly sunny, no precipitation, northwesterly winds 30 to 40 km/h, maximum -7 C.
Sunday: Sunny, no precipitation, northwesterly winds 50 to 70 km/h, maximum -10 C.
Monday: Snow, 15-20 cm, northwesterly winds 40 to 60 km/h, maximum -6 C.
For more details, see the Chic-Chocs alpine forecast.
