*** A special avalanche watch is activated for areas outside our forecast zone ***
Heavy snow and strong winds are forecast for the next 24 hours. These rapid changes will greatly affect the stability of the snowpack.
There is uncertainty about the amount of snow expected and the effect of the wind on it. Winds will shift from southeast to northwest during Thursday night. The storm snow problem could turn into a wind slab problem on the eastern to southern slopes during the day on Friday.
No new avalanches observed or reported.
If you are out in the backcountry, please share your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
Between 10 and 15 cm of new snow is forecast for Thursday night. In the alpine and at treeline, this new snow will rest on a variety of wind-affected surfaces: Sastrugi, crust or superposition of wind slabs of different densities.
In areas sheltered from the wind and below treeline, the new snow will be added to the 25 to 40 cm of low-density snow already present.
The middle of the snowpack is well consolidated. At the base, there is a well-developed layer of facets, especially where the snowpack is thinner.
A low-pressure system from Texas brings snow on Thursday evening and Friday.
Thursday evening and night: Snow heavy at times. Accumulations of 10 to 15 cm. Winds southeast turning to northwest, 30-60 km/h. Low - 14.
Friday: Snow flurries, 5 to 10 cm. North-westerly winds from 70 to 90 km/h. Temperatures dropping to -16 in the afternoon.
Saturday: Sunny. Northwest winds, 60 to 90 km/h. Maximum -15.
Sunday: Becoming cloudy by midday. Northwest winds, 20 to 40 km/h. Maximum -6.
For more details, see the Chic-Chocs alpine weather forecast.
