Avalanche forecast

Chic-Choc Mountains

Mar 11 – 12, 2026Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
4 · High
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Heavy snowfall and strong winds will increase the danger to high on Thursday, meaning dangerous conditions in the mountains.

Avoid avalanche terrain, stay on simple below treeline terrain and allow time for the snowpack to stabilise.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Very Likely
    Size
    1–2

    The rapidly accumulating snow, combined with strong winds, will form storm slabs that can be easily triggered by a skier anywhere in the mountains. These slabs will rest on a crust that is likely to provide an excellent sliding surface, which could increase their reactivity. The danger will be particularly pronounced on north-facing leeward slopes. Strong winds could create reactive slabs lower down the mountain than usual.

Confidence

Moderate

  • We are uncertain due to the timing, track, and intensity of the incoming weather system.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been observed or reported.

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

Snowpack Summary

The new snow that began at noon on Wednesday and will continue on Thursday will settle on a widespread crust throughout the mountains that supports the weight of a skier in the alpine zone and is slightly less supportive below the tree line. New accumulations are likely to be greater on north-facing slopes.

Following the rain and refreezing earlier this week, the middle of the snowpack is generally well consolidated.

At mid-mountain, the average snowpack depth is approximately 115 cm.

Weather Summary

WEATHER FOR THE CHIC-CHOCS RIDGES AND PEAKS

A low-pressure system will hit the Chic-Chocs on Wednesday afternoon and intensify early Thursday morning. This system will bring heavy precipitation and strong to extreme winds.

Wednesday evening and night

Cloudy. 20 to 30 cm of snow and sleet. Winds of 40 to 80 km/h blowing from the south-east. Low of -10°C.

Thursday

Cloudy. 10 cm of snow. Winds 40 to 60 km/h from the southeast, then 10 to 30 km/h from the southwest in the afternoon. High of -3°C.

Friday

Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. Winds of 25 to 50 km/h from the northwest in the morning, then from the west in the afternoon. Maximum temperature of -16°C.

Saturday

A mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 3 cm of snow. Winds of 20 to 40 km/h from the south-east. Maximum temperature of -9°C.


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

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be aware of the potential for human triggerable storm slabs at lower elevations, even on small features.
  • As the storm slab problem worsens, the easy solution is to choose more conservative terrain.
  • Recent strong wind means wind slabs may be found farther downslope than expected.

Regions covered