Cold temperatures, new snow and sustained northwesterly winds are keeping wind slabs developing on the upper eastern slopes in the alpine.
With a MODERATE danger rating, natural avalanches are unlikely but triggering by skiers or snowboarders remains possible, especially on steep, unsupported slopes and convex rolls.
The new snow (3-5 cm) continues to be moved by the moderate to strong northwesterly winds to form wind slabs of up to 15 to 50 cm at the top of alpine eastern slopes.
No new avalanches have been observed or reported.
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In the alpine, the western and windward slopes have been swept to the crust. The eastern and leeward slopes have accumulated 5-10 cm of new dry snow and wind slabs 15-50 cm thick have formed at the top of alpine slopes.
At treeline and below treeline, a brittle surface crust that cannot support the weight of a skier or snowboarder covers the 15 to 35 cm of snow above the March 26 crust. The surface crust is more solid on the solar aspects, where the snow has been more affected by radiation.
The middle and the base of the snowpack is well consolidated, and of increasing density, interspersed with several melt freeze crusts from the last few weeks.
Forecast for the Chic-Chocs ridges and summits.
Synopsis: A ridge of high pressure maintains generally clear and gradually warmer conditions for the next few days.
Saturday evening and night: A few clouds, no precipitation, northwesterly winds 30 to 40 km/h, minimum -10 C.
Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud and increasing cloudiness in the afternoon, no precipitation, westerly winds 30 to 50 km/h, maximum -4 C.
Monday: Sunny, no precipitation, northwesterly winds 30 to 40 km/h, maximum +5 C, freezing level at 2000 m.
Tuesday: A mix of sun and cloud and rain in the afternoon, 2-3 mm, westerly winds 20 to 30 km/h, maximum +3 C, freezing level at 1200 m.
For more details, see the Chic-Chocs alpine forecast.
