Avalanche Forecast

High

No new avalanche activity has been observed or reported.

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At lower elevations, 10 to 15 cm of low density snow covers the December 23 melt freeze crust, which does not quite support the weight of a skier. As you gain altitude, the crust fades in places to give way to a slightly denser snow interface, covered with 15 to 25 cm of low density snow. In the alpine, the strong to extreme winds of the latest weather events have swept the slopes down to the crust and even to the rocks. However, larger pockets of accumulation are found in downwind gullies and depressions in the alpine and at treeline. With the heat and the rain, the snow on the surface will be moistened and weighed down before forming a new widespread crust during the night from Saturday to Sunday.

The average height of the snowpack is still very thin, about 35 cm in the valley to 80 cm mid-mountain, and extremely variable from place to place.

Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summits.

A warm air mass over the Gaspé Peninsula will keep clouds, some rain and temperatures above freezing for Saturday.

Friday evening and night: Freezing rain changing to rain, 3-5 mm, southwesterly winds 50 to 60 km/h, minimum +1 C with temperature inversion, freezing level at 2000 m.

Saturday: Periods of rain, 1-2 mm, westerly winds 30 to 50 km/h, maximum +3 C, freezing level dropping to 1000 m.

Sunday: Flurries, 3-5 cm, northwesterly winds 20 to 40 km/h, maximum -2 C with temperatures dropping, freezing level back at valley bottom.

Monday: A mix of sun and cloud, northwesterly winds 30 to 50 km/h, maximum -12 C, freezing level at valley bottom.

For more details, check out the Chic-Chocs alpine weather forecast.