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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 9th, 2023–Dec 10th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Below Threshold.

Regions

Chic-Choc Mountains.

A major low-pressure system will pass over the Chic-Chocs from Sunday to Tuesday morning.

There is uncertainty about the intensity, quantity and type of precipitation to be received, and therefore uncertainty about the impact of this precipitation on the snowpack.

If you're going out in the alpine, it's possible that the isolated problem of wind slabs will persist on Sunday before the heat and rain set in. Be on the lookout for areas of recent wind load.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

Early season, observations are limited. Thanks for sharing your observation through the Mountain Information Network if you head out.

No new avalanches have been observed or reported. Please share your observations at [email protected] or via the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

The wind over the last few days has brought great variability to the snowpack on the mountains, from crust to rock, to pockets of powder or wind slabs of varying densities. In general, the snowpack remains thin, varying from 30 to 70 cm at mid-mountain. Some areas at the treeline are beginning to be sufficiently loaded to be skied... but you need to know where to find them.

In the Mount Albert alpine, with its large recovery zone on the summit plateau, areas of maximum loading, depressions and concavities present a thicker, more variable and more complex snowpack.

The summits are bare and exposed to rock or crust.

Weather Summary

Synopsis: Passage of a major low-pressure system bringing heat, freezing rain and strong southerly winds from Sunday to Tuesday morning. Possible snowy finale if you're nice...

Saturday evening and night: Cloudy. Freezing drizzle possible. Southwest wind 20 to 30 km/h. Maximum -3.

Sunday: Cloudy, drizzle or freezing rain changing to rain late in the day. Wind southwest 50 to 70 km/h. Maximum 0. Freezing level rising from 800m to 2000m in the evening.

Monday: Rain 50-60 mm, mixed precipitation or snow. Strong southerly winds. High +8. Freezing level between 500 and 1000m.

Tuesday: Clearing. Moderate westerly wind. Maximum -8

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.
  • Avalanche danger is often elevated in alpine gullies where snow has accumulated.

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.