Cold temperatures and wind slow down the stabilization of wind slabs in the mountains. Cold also intensifies the consequences of an accident, making intervention more difficult and increasing the danger to victims.
New wind slabs have formed on the north-east to south-facing slopes. They can easily react to human triggers. You'll find them mainly in the start zones of couloirs, under ridges where accumulation is at its highest, as well as under terrain convexities and laterally-loaded reliefs.
No new avalanches observed or reported
If you head into the backcountry, thanks for sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
In the alpine and at treeline, we find a variety of surfaces, ranging from surface obstacles, hardened snow to recent wind slabs on northeast to south-facing aspects. In areas protected from the wind and below treeline, there is between 10 and 30 cm of powdery snow. The middle of the snowpack appears to be fairly stable (snowpack consolidation), although facets are developing near the crusts at the base of the snowpack. Snow depth at mid-mountain varies between 90 and 130 cm.
WEATHER FOR THE CHIC-CHOCS RIDGES AND SUMMITS
A few sunny spells on Sunday before the return of snow on Monday
Saturday evening and night: Partly cloudy. Light snow 1 to 3 cm. Wind northwest 40 to 60 km/h. Low -26.
Sunday: Alternating sun and clouds. Wind west 30 to 50 km/h. Maximum -22C.
Monday: Intermittent snow. Wind southwest 30 to 50 km/h. Maximum -8C.
Tuesday: Intermittent snow. Total accumulations of 5 to 10 cm. Wind northwest 40 to 60 km/h. Maximum -14C.
For more details, see the Chic-Chocs alpine weather forecast.
