Light snow dusts a solid melt-freeze crust, creating challenging travel conditions.
Enjoy another winter-like day in the mountains with (rare) light wind.
Wind slabs exist in isolated terrain features such as cross-loaded areas and below convex rolls. These sit on a thick crust, offering a good bed surface for avalanches.
No new avalanche was reported or observed on Tuesday.
On Monday, a wind slab avalanche (size 1.5) was observed in the Bol de Toilette, at Grande-Cuve, Mont Albert. It was naturally triggered over the weekend and slid on the March 21 crust.
If you are heading into the backcountry, please share your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
On leeward slopes, 10 to 15 cm of new snow sits atop a solid melt-freeze crust formed on March 21st.
In the alpine and at treeline, this new snow overlies various surfaces such as a crust, wind-affected pockets, or bare ground. In areas of maximum loading on east and southeast slopes, isolated spots can be found where accumulations may reach up to 30 cm.
At mid-mountain, the snowpack height ranges from 60 to 150 cm.
A lingering trough will provide cloudy skies, flurries, and rising temperatures for Wednesday.
Tuesday evening and night: Cloudy. Isolated flurries up to 2 cm of new snow. 20 km/h south wind. Minimum -6 C.
Wednesday: Cloudy. Isolated flurries with 3 to 5 cm of new snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest wind. Maximum 0 °C. Freezing level around 500 m.
Thursday: Cloudy. 20 km/h northwest wind. Maximum -5 C.
Friday: Cloudy. Snow beginning in the afternoon with 5 to 10 cm of new snow. 20 to 40 km/h northwest wind. Maximum -4 C.
For more details, read the Chic-Chocs alpine weather forecast.
