Avalanche forecast

Chic-Choc Mountains

Mar 27 – 29, 2024Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 3 years ago

Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable

Highlights

👉 CAUTION - BULLETIN VALID FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 28 AND FRIDAY, MARCH 29 👈

The snowpack will continue to become saturated over the next few days and increasingly susceptible to triggering. It is best to avoid avalanche terrain until the snowpack refreezes.

Avalanche problems

  • Loose Wet

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

    Warm temperatures and rain could produce small avalanches of loose wet snow. The risk is greater on steep slopes. The more water-logged the snow (slush), the greater the avalanche risk.

  • Wet Slabs

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

    Warm temperatures and precipitation in the form of rain could trigger wet slabs in places where a slab (storm or wind) existed. Every day of warm weather increases the risk of avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

An accident involving snowmobilers occurred on Tuesday, March 26, near La Martre, just outside our forecast area. For more details, please consult the MIN report.

If you head into the backcountry, thanks for sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

The top 25 to 30 cm of the snowpack is moist or wet. The rainfall still to come will help to make the upper part of the snowpack isothermal, allowing water to percolate down to the underlying crust.

There is a crust of 4 cm thick down 40 cm from the surface. Beneath this crust, there is 20 cm of dry snow resting on a layer of ice that extends to the base of the snowpack.

Last weekend's wind loaded the south and southeast slopes with snow in the alpine and at treeline.

Weather Summary

Synopsis: Warm temperatures and rainfall will continue for the next few days. Freezing levels will remain above 2,000m until Saturday morning. Some models see snow showers for the Easter vacation.

Wednesday evening and night: Rain. 10 mm of rain. Wind southwest, 30-40 km/h. Low +1.

Thursday: Cloudy. 2 to 3 mm of rain during the day. Light wind, variable directions. High +4. 15 mm rain overnight.

Friday: Cloudy. Wind northwest, 20 to 40 km/h. High +2. Chance of 30 cm of snow overnight.

Saturday: Cloudy. 10 cm. Moderate northwest wind, 40 to 60 km/h. High -3.

For more details, check out the most recent alpine weather forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Keep in mind that wet avalanches can be destructive due to their high density.
  • Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy rain.

Regions covered