Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 11th, 2023–Apr 12th, 2023

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.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Chic-Choc Mountains, Littoral, Murdochville.

There is a lot of uncertainty about the amount and type of precipitation that will fall on the Chic-Chocs.

In the spring, the danger rating can fluctuate with the changing weather, especially when rain, snow, frost and heat are all present in the same day.

It is very important to be autonomous in your decision making on the mountain and to be attentive to signs of instability.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Several small wet loose snow avalanches observed by the field crew on the steep slopes of the mur des Patrouilleurs on Tuesday.

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Snowpack Summary

The rain on Tuesday night continued to moisten the snowpack at all altitudes, before turning into snow on the summits. In the Alpine, drier snow could be deposited on top of snow that has already been greatly moistened. The layer of wet snow on the surface will be more important with the loss of altitude at and below the treeline. A minimum of 20 to 30 cm of moistened, even wet, snow lies directly on a rather crumbly and increasingly imperceptible refreezing crust. The middle and the base of the snowpack is well consolidated, and of increasing density, interspersed with several crusts of refreezing from the last weeks.

Weather Summary

Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summits.

Synopsis: Passage of a low-pressure system that brings rain and snow to the Chic-Chocs. Tuesday evening and night: Cloudiness, followed by rain (5 to 10 mm), changing to snow. Winds 20 to 40 km/h from the southwest. Low 0. Freezing level from 1200 m to 700 m. Wednesday: Snow 5 to 10 cm total. Wind northwest, 30 to 50 km/h. Maximum +1. Freezing level at 500 m in the morning, rising to 1100 m by the end of the day. Thursday: Clearing. Wind northwest, 20 to 40 km/h. Maximum +1. Freezing level at 700 m.Friday: Sunny. Wind northwest, 20 to 40 km/h. High +2. Freezing level at 600 m.

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

Terrain and Travel Advice

The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.

Problems

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.

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.