Avalanche forecast

Chic-Choc Mountains

Apr 21 – 22, 2023Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Mon
Alpine
No rating
Treeline
No rating
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Throughout the day, the heat and intense solar radiation will transform the snow on the surface to soften it, soak with water and offer corn snow spring conditions.

However, such conditions are favourable to the triggering of cornices and wet loose avalanches, which are particularly to watch for on steep slopes on solar aspects.

Avalanche problems

  • Cornices

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2.5

    Spring weather is favorable to cornices falls. Even a small cornice can be destructive and harmful. As they are unpredictable, be sure to stay well away from them at all times.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–1.5

    The heat and the intense solar radiation will promote the triggering of small loose wet snow avalanches, in particular on the steep slopes on solar aspects.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche has been observed or reported.

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Snowpack Summary

Despite the return of the freezing level at the valley bottom during the night, the heat and intense solar radiation will quickly transform the snow on the surface to soften it, soak with water and offer corn snow spring conditions.

In general, the rapid melting of the snowpack over the last days has exposed the ground, primarily at and below the treeline. Below the treeline, snow conditions are now minimal.Snowpack heights range from 0 cm (valley) to 105 cm (mid-mountain).

Weather Summary

Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summits.

Synopsis: A ridge of high pressure is moving over the region to bring clear weather for the weekend.Friday evening and night: Partly cloudy, no precipitation, southerly winds 5 to 10 km/h, minimum 0 C, slight temperature inversion, freezing level at valley bottom.

Saturday: Mainly sunny, no precipitation, southeasterly winds 10 to 15 km/h, maximum +7 C, freezing level at 3000 m.

Sunday: Sunny, no precipitation, southeasterly winds 20 to 30 km/h, maximum +6 C, freezing level at 2700 m.

Monday: Sunny, no precipitation, southeasterly winds 10 to 20 km/h, maximum +5 C, freezing level at 2300 m.For more details, see the Chic-Chocs alpine forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Caution around slopes that are exposed to cornices overhead.
  • As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
  • Rocks will heat up with daytime warming and may become trigger points for loose wet avalanches

Regions covered