Storm snow and strong westerly winds developed new wind slabs in downwind areas. These rest in places directly on the crust which constitutes an excellent sliding plane for avalanches. With a MODERATE danger rating, they could only require the passage of a skier or snowboarder to trigger.
The storm snow was strongly moved by the strong winds, first from the east and then from the west. With northwesterly winds, new wind slabs are found in downwind and cross loaded areas. In some places, they directly cover the January 18 ice crust, which could be an excellent sliding plane for avalanches.
A natural wind slab avalanche size 1 have been observed today on a south-east slope in the alpine in mount Albert.
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Thursday's storm added 15 to 25 cm of new snow, for a total of about 25 to 40 cm above the January 18 ice crust. The storm snow was moved extensively by the moderate to strong winds, first from the east and then from the west, forming wind slabs up to 30 to 50 cm thick. We thus find a wide variety of surfaces, ranging from hard slabs to scoured down to the crust in the alpine, and lighter density snow or soft slabs in sheltered areas and below treeline.
Below the January 18th crust is a generally well settled 15 to 20 cm of snow, resting on the facet from the decomposition of the January 2nd melt freeze crust. This interface sits on a mix of laminated crusts and facets at the base of the snowpack.
In general, the height of the snowpack varies from 50 to 70 cm in the valley to 100 to 140 cm mid-mountain.
Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summits.
Synopsis: A passing cold front will bring increasing cloud cover followed by a few flurries beginning early Saturday afternoon.
Friday evening and night: A few clouds, westerly winds 20 to 40 km/h, minimum -16 C, weak temperature inversion, freezing level at valley bottom.
Saturday: Increasing cloudiness followed by flurries beginning in the afternoon, 2-4 cm, southerly winds 40 to 60 km/h, maximum -7 C, freezing level at valley bottom.
Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud, becoming cloudy in the afternoon followed by flurries, 3-5 cm, northwesterly winds 30 to 50 km/h, maximum -16 C, freezing level at valley bottom.
Monday: Periods of snow, 1-2 cm, southwesterly winds 20 to 30 km/h, maximum -15 C, freezing level at valley bottom.
For more details, check the Alpine Weather Forecast.
