Use caution if venturing into avalanche terrain on Friday. Avoid slopes where the snow has softened to a depth of more than 10 cm.
With high temperatures, rain in the forecast and no nighttime refreeze, water will infiltrate more deeply and could destabilize the upper part of the snowpack. The situation will improve in the afternoon with the formation of a refreezing crust.
No new avalanches observed or reported.
If you are out in the backcountry, please share your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
The snow is moist on the surface, at all altitudes and on all aspects. There will be no nighttime refreezing on Thursday night. A generalized melt-freeze crust should form late on Friday.
A melt-freeze crust formed on March 7 is present between 5 and 40 cm below the surface. The middle of the snowpack is moist.
In the alpine and at treeline, there is little snow on all slopes except those to the east and south-east. At mid-mountain, snowpack thickness varies between 70 and 160 cm.
WEATHER FOR THE CRESTS AND SUMMITS OF CHIC-CHOCS
Cloudy skies with intermittent drizzle for Friday.
Thursday evening and night: Mostly cloudy. Southerly wind, 40 to 60 km/h. Low +3. No nighttime refreezing. Freezing level at 2,800 m.
Friday: Intermittent drizzle. Accumulation of 5 to 7 mm of rain. Light southerly winds becoming light northerly. Temperatures cooling to below freezing by afternoon. Freezing level at 2500 m.
Saturday: Sunny. Wind southwest, 10 to 30 km/h. High +4. Freezing level at 1,000 m.
Sunday: Intermittent snow. Accumulation of 5 cm. Wind northwest, 30 to 50 km/h. Maximum -13. Freezing level at valley bottom.
For more details, see the Chic-Chocs alpine weather forecast.
