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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 25th, 2024–Mar 27th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

Chic-Choc Mountains.

👉 CAUTION - BULLETIN VALID FOR TUESDAY MARCH 26 AND WEDNESDAY MARCH 27 👈

Tuesday will be a great day to enjoy the snow in the mountains before the heavy rainfall forecast for Wednesday. Be sure to take the time to read the bulletin, several avalanche problems are present.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Several size 1 to 2 avalanches were reported on south-facing slopes, including a size 2 avalanche accidentally triggered by a skier on a south-facing slope with a crown around 50 cm thick.

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

Snowpack Summary

We find great spatial variability in the mountains due to the strong to extreme winds that have accompanied recent storms.

At mid-mountain, in areas sheltered from the wind, 50 to 60 cm of snow rests on a thin friable crust. Beneath this crust, a further 20 cm or so of snow covered the very firm crust of March 10. Solar aspect have been affected by the sun.

The middle of the snowpack is very well consolidated down to the ground. The average snow depth is around 130-160 cm.

Weather Summary

Synopsis: A ridge of high pressure stationed directly over the Chic-Chocs will give us another beautiful day in the mountains on Tuesday. Things will start to turn nasty from Tuesday evening, with freezing rain turning to rain.

Monday evening and night: Clear. Light southerly wind, 15 to 20 km/h. Low -10.

Tuesday: Sunny. Wind southeast, 30 to 40 km/h. Maximum +5. Mountain inversion. 10 mm of freezing rain expected overnight.

Wednesday: Rain. 10 mm. Strong south-westerly wind, 60 to 80 km/h. High +7. Mountain inversion. Freezing level at 3,000 m.

Thursday: Cloudy. Moderate southwesterly wind, 20 to 40 km/h. High +8. Freezing level at 2,000 m.

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

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Avoid sun exposed slopes, especially if snow surface is moist or wet.
  • Keep in mind that wet avalanches can be destructive due to their high density.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Wet Slabs

Wet Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) that is generally moist or wet when the flow of liquid water weakens the bond between the slab and the surface below (snow or ground). They often occur during prolonged warming events and/or rain-on-snow events. Wet Slabs can be very unpredictable and destructive.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.