In wind-loaded areas, backcountry users could potentially trigger small localized avalanches or larger avalanches in isolated areas. Share your most notable observations of the day with us by submitting a MIN.
Wind slabs will mainly be found in areas at the start of the alpine zone and at the tree line. They could vary in thickness from 20 to 50 cm and could be triggered by human activity.
An avalanche crown in the Mélèzes Sud area was observed from the Ruisseau Isabelle parking lot. The wind slab avalanche appears to have been naturally triggered. If you have any information about this avalanche, please do not hesitate to contact us or submit a MIN report.
If you head into the backcountry, thanks for sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
In alpine terrain and near treeline, we are finding a combination of wind-affected snow and overlapping wind slabs.
In wind-sheltered areas, there is 30–40 cm of low-density snow at the surface. Below 600 m elevation, a friable melt-freeze crust formed last Thursday is present at a depth of approximately 10–20 cm.
The December 20 crust is now buried at a depth of 60–110 cm. The faceted grains at its surface are slowly rounding and are becoming less reactive in stability tests. This layer appears to be gradually strengthening.
The average snowpack depth at mid-mountain is approximately 120 cm.
A cold front will sweep across the region on Friday.
Thursday evening and night: Partly cloudy. Snow up to 2 cm. Winds from the west 20 to 50 km/h. Low −17°C.
Friday: Cloudy. Snow up to 2 cm. Winds from the west 15 to 40 km/h. High -19°C.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. Northwest winds 20 to 60 km/h. High -22°C.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. Northwest winds 40 to 50 km/h. High -23°C.
