Recent northwest winds have formed wind slabs near ridgelines on east to south-facing aspects. These slabs remain reactive to skier traffic. Seek out areas where the snow has not been affected by the wind.
Wind slabs remain reactive. Human-triggered avalanches are still possible. Avoid wind-loaded areas in the upper parts of gullies and near ridgelines. Wind slabs are estimated to be 10–40 cm thick.
A small skier-triggered avalanche was reported on the Mountain Information Network (MIN). It occurred in the upper part of an east to southeast-facing gully.
If you head into the backcountry, thanks for sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
Strong winds have created high variability in the alpine and at treeline: conditions range from scoured areas to stacked wind slabs and wind-compacted snow.
In wind-sheltered areas, 30–40 cm of low-density snow remains at the surface. Below 600 m elevation, a friable melt-freeze crust formed last Thursday is present at a depth of approximately 5–10 cm.
The December 20 crust is now buried at a depth of about 70–110 cm. This layer is undergoing decomposition: the faceted grains at its surface are rounding and showing decreasing reactivity in stability tests. This layer appears to be gradually gaining strength.
The average snowpack depth at mid-elevations is approximately 120 cm.
WEATHER FOR THE CHIC-CHOCS RIDGES AND PEAKS
Calm conditions Sunday and Monday, with cloudy skies, moderate winds, and pleasant temperatures.
Saturday evening and night: Partly cloudy. Southwest winds at 20–40 km/h. Low of −12 °C.
Sunday: Clouding over. Intermittent snow beginning late in the morning. Accumulation of 2–4 cm. Southwest winds at 30–50 km/h. High of −10 °C.
Monday: A mix of sun and clouds. Northwest winds at 10–20 km/h. High of −10 °C.
Tuesday: Snow. Accumulation of 4–6 cm. Southwest winds at 20–40 km/h. High of −12 °C.
For more details, see the Chic-Chocs alpine weather forecast.
