Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Dec 1st, 2022 2:30PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada jfmichaud, Avalanche Canada

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Beginning of the season for the Avalanche Quebec team and beginning of the season in the mountains!

Although skiing is possible, the generalized crust and barely hidden obstacles make travel perilous.

This will make for a good base!

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity has been observed or reported. Please share your observations at info@avalanchequebec.ca, or with the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

On our first mountain outing of the season at Hog's Back Mountain, we noticed a widespread crust on all slopes and altitudes. It is about 3 to 4 cm thick, it breaks under the weight of a skier and makes the descent rather unpleasant. We have no observations above 830 meters for the moment, but we strongly suspect that the rain has also affected the highest peaks of the Chic-Chocs. The snowpack height is very variable, ranging from a few centimeters to 80 centimeters in areas of maximum accumulation. It is early season and conditions are still marginal. There is not enough snow to cover most of the buried obstacles. The crust makes travel difficult and falls potentially dangerous.

Weather Summary

Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summitsThis evening and tonight: 2 to 5 cm of snow, northwest winds 50 to 80 km/h, low -9.Friday: Cloudy, clearing in the afternoon, winds diminishing to 30 to 50 km/h from the west, high -9.Saturday: Snow followed by rain, winds southwest 80 to 100 km/h, high +2, freezing level 1600m. Sunday: Cloudy, winds northwest 30 to 50 km/h, maximum -7.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

The light snow forecast for Thursday night (if it materializes ...) will be carried by strong to extreme winds and could form wind slabs, especially below alpine ridges, in gullies and in cross loading areas. These will rest on a crust that could potentially form an excellent sliding plane.

Aspects: East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Dec 2nd, 2022 3:00PM