Mild temperatures have greatly helped to stabilize the wind slabs in the alpine, but they are still showing propagation in our tests, which is why the rating remains moderate at this elevation band.
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Although we are seeing some stabilization of the wind slabs with the warmer temperatures, the tests conducted on Wednesday still showed reaction and propagation, and thus avalanche potential. Moreover, there was still dry snow available for wind transport on the Mount Albert plateau. This snow could therefore form new, smaller, more reactive slabs the surface.
The forecasted heat could moisten and destabilize the surface snow at low altitude, at the treeline and below the treeline, particularly on southern aspects. The sun, if it comes out at the end of the day, could accelerate the problem and could even affect the steep southern slopes in the alpine.
Several small non-cohesive wet loose snow avalanches were observed Wednesday by the field team on the steep southern slopes of Mount Albert
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Near the summits, and on the northern and western slopes of the alpine, the wind has exposed various crusts, ice, or hardened snow. To the south and east of the alpine, there is a superposition of wind-blown slabs, often of high density and variable thickness. We find a melt-freeze crust on the surface up to the summit on the southern slopes and up to about 800m on the other slopes. This will be warmed by the sun and the heat on Thursday afternoon in the south.
In areas more sheltered from the wind at and below the treeline, the February 17 crust is generally under 20 to 35 cm of snow, also affected by the heat and refreezing of the last few days.
The middle of the snowpack is well consolidated, with the January 18 crust 50 to 80 cm below the surface.
In general, the height of the snowpack varies from 80 to 100 cm in the valley to 110 to 160 cm in the middle mountains.
Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summits.
Wednesday evening and night: Light snow, 1 to 2 cm. Wind northeast, 30 to 50 km/h. Low -6.Thursday: Clearing in the afternoon. Wind 20 to 30 km/h from the northeast. Max. -4C. Freezing level at 350 m.Friday: Light snow, then alternating sun and clouds. Wind north, 25 to 45 km/h. Maximum -6. Freezing level at sea level.Saturday: Alternating sun and clouds. Wind northeast, 30 to 40 km/h. High -3. Freezing level at 100 m.
For more details, see the Chic-Chocs alpine forecast.
