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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 16th, 2025–Mar 17th, 2025

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

Regions

Chic-Choc Mountains.

Rain could quickly destabilize the snowpack. Use extreme caution if venturing into the mountains.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed or reported.

If you are out in the backcountry, please share your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Snowpack Summary

Surface snow is moist on all slopes and at all altitudes. By the end of Monday, a widespread refreezing crust should have formed in the mountains.

The surface snow, which varies in thickness from 5 to 40 cm depending on location, rests on a refreezing crust formed on March 7th. This crust appears to be thicker in the alpine than below treeline.

In alpine areas and at treeline, there is very little snow on the western and northern slopes. Snow depths vary between 70 cm and 200 cm.

Weather Summary

WEATHER FOR THE CRESTS AND SUMMITS OF CHIC-CHOCS

A rainy day in the mountains on Monday

Sunday evening and night: Mostly cloudy. Winds from the south at 40 to 60 km/h. Temperatures steady near +8.

Monday: Intermittent rain. Accumulation of 5 to 10 mm of rain. Winds 20 to 40 km/h from southwest. Maximum +7. Temperature cooling during the day. Freezing level at 2500 m.

Tuesday: Cloudy. Accumulation of 4 cm possible. Wind 20-30 km/h northwest. High -3. Freezing level at 500 m.

Wednesday: Sunny. Winds 5 to 15 km/h from the south. High +4. Freezing level at 700 m.

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

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Keep in mind that the high density of wet avalanches can make them destructive.

Problems

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.