The snowpack needs time to find its new balance after the mixed weather from the past few days.
More snow than expected has fallen since Friday. This new snow has been transported by strong winds and has formed new wind slabs which are resting on a generalized crust. Cold temperatures mean that the bonding between these layers will be slower.
20 cm of low-density snow overlie the generalized crust and sluffing will be considerable on sufficiently steep slopes below treeline.
A size 2 avalanche was accidentally triggered by users in the northern couloirs on Hog's back. Otherwise, very few field observations since yesterday.
If you are out in the backcountry, please share your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
The weather cocktail of the last few days brought changes to the upper snowpack, but thanks to the snow received at the end of the storm, the gliding conditions are still decent. In the alpine and in exposed areas at treeline, the 20 to 25 cm of storm snow was redistributed by the strong winds towards the northeast to south aspects. This snow overlies a crust left by the last system in leeward areas, and this crust is exposed on windward aspects. Below treeline, 20 to 30 cm of light snow sit over the rain crust.
The snowpack is generally wet under this crust, and it will be interesting to see how it will evolve with the cold temperatures of the next few days. Facets are still found at the base of the snowpack. The height of the snowpack varies between 100 cm and 200 cm.
WEATHER FOR THE CRESTS AND SUMMITS OF CHIC-CHOCS
Light snow and perhaps a few sunny spells to come...
Saturday evening and night: Cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. Northwest winds from 50-55 km/h. -18C.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy. End of precipitation in the morning. Northwest winds from 30-40 km/h. -16C.
Monday: Clearing. Northwest winds from 15 to 25 km/h. -20C.
Tuesday: Cloudy. Snow. Southwest winds from 10 to 20 km/h. Warming.
For more details, see the Chic-Chocs alpine weather forecast.
