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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 24th, 2024–Feb 25th, 2024

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.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Chic-Choc Mountains.

Powder snow still exists below treeline, while slopes at upper elevations are wind-affected. If venturing on steep convex slopes, be mindful of thin rocky areas where triggering is likely.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Thursday, a group of skiers accidentally triggered a size 1 wind slab avalanche on a north-east, leeward alpine slope, at La Grande Cuve, Mont Albert. The failure plane was a weak layer of facets, buried under the wind-affected snow.

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

Snowpack Summary

In the alpine and wind-affected areas, wind-pressed surfaces, isolated pockets of recently drifted snow, or hard wind slabs are found.

These slabs are overlying older/denser snow or a weak layer of facet grains. This was the failure plane of the avalanche triggered on February 22 at Grande Cuve.

About 15-20 cm of cold powdery snow can be found in sheltered slopes. The mid-snowpack is well consolidated, resting on the December 30 combo of facets and crust. Facets and depth hoar are developing at the base of the snowpack.

Weather Summary

Synopsis: A high-pressure system will build in on Sunday, bringing sunny skies and light wind.

Saturday evening and night: Partly cloudy. Wind northwest, 30-40 km/h. Minimum -20.

Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud. Wind southwest, 20-30 km/h. Maximum -7.

Monday: Period of snow. 2 cm. Wind southwest, 20-30 km/h. Maximum -5.

Tuesday: Cloudy with clear period. Wind southwest, 30-50 km/h. Maximum -1

For more details, check out the most recent alpine weather forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Avoid rock outcroppings, convexities, and anywhere the snowpack is thin and/or variable.
  • Be cautious of buried obstacles especially below treeline.

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.