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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 7th, 2023–Feb 8th, 2023

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

Regions

Chic-Choc Mountains.

A low danger rating does not mean no risk!

Strong winds and some precipitations can lower the visibility, making it difficult to assess the terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche has been observed or reported in the last 24 hours.

Thanks for contributing to the collection of this valuable data by sharing with other users on the Mountain Information Network or by writing to us directly at [email protected].

Snowpack Summary

The extreme winds from the last weekend have left a great deal of surfaces in exposed areas. In the alpine, at treeline and on open areas below treeline, a few centimetres covers the January 18th crust, while in wind loaded areas, over 100 cm of compacted snow was found on top of it.

Below the treeline, 35 to 45 cm of wind-pressed snow was found on top of the decomposing crust.In general, the height of the snowpack goes from 70 to 90 cm in the valley to 100 to 150 cm at mid-mountain.

Weather Summary

Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summits.

Synopsis: An occluded front will leave some precipitation over the Chic-Chocs during the night. It will be followed by high pressure, meaning the return of good weather for Thursday.

Tuesday night and overnight: Cloudy. 1-2 cm of snow. Winds from the southwest around 75 km/h. Min. -12C.

Wednesday: Cloudy. 2-4 cm of snow. Winds around 40 km/h with gusting up to 75 km/h from the west. Max. -12C.

Thursday: Sunny, no precipitation. Winds from the northwest around 80 km/h easing off to 50 km/h. Max. -15C.

Friday: Cloudy. 10 to 15 cm of snow. Winds around 75 km/h from the south. Max. -9C.

For more details, check the Alpine Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.

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.

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.