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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 15th, 2023–Apr 16th, 2023

Alpine
Below Threshold.
Treeline
Below Threshold.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Below Threshold.
Treeline
Below Threshold.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Below Threshold.
Treeline
Below Threshold.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.

Regions

Chic-Choc Mountains, Littoral, Murdochville.

No overnight freeze is expected Saturday, except for a slight refreeze in the valleys.

It will be warm both day and night, weakening progressively the snowpack.

Ensure you start and finish your day early to avoid when avalanche danger will spike.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche was reported or observed in the last 24 hours. Thanks for contributing to the collection of this valuable data by sharing it with other users on the Mountain Information Network or by writing to us directly at [email protected].

Snowpack Summary

A refreeze occurred overnight Friday at all elevations. In the alpine, icy surfaces (with a supportive crust up to 5 cm) soften slightly on Saturday on all alpine slopes, except perhaps the north-facing slopes. At treeline and below treeline, quick thawing happened on all slopes. The snowpack is saturated with water and snow conditions are rather sticky and slow (mashed potatoes snow). With no overnight refreeze expected, the snowpack will become progressively weaker, wetter and less cohesive. Melting is happening fast and the height of snow varies from 50 cm (valley) to 130 cm (mid-mountain).

Weather Summary

Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summits.

Synopsis: A southerly flow will bring warming temperatures and rising freezing levels until Tuesday.

Saturday evening and night: Generally cloudy with clear periods. No precipitation. Light southwest, gusting 40 km/h. Alpine low of +3 C. Freezing level rises to 1500 m. Weak temperature inversion.

Sunday: A mix of sun and clouds. No precipitation. Light southerly wind at 25 km/h. Alpine high of +6 C. Freezing level rises to 2800 m.

Monday: Mainly cloudy with sunny periods. No precipitation. Moderate southwest wind at 35 km/h. Alpine high of +8 C. Freezing level rises to 3400 m.

Tuesday: Rain up to 10 mm. Strong southeast wind at 50 km/h. Alpine high of +7 C. Freezing level at 3200 m.

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

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
  • Adjust your travel plans accordingly to the changing conditions of elevation and time of day.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.