Wind Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Certain
- Größe
- 1–2
Today winds will be ruthless, blowing from the south at strong to extreme speeds. Snowfall rates will push an inch per hour. This will cause a rapid rise in instability as the day advances. Both wind slabs and storm slabs are most likely to occur during the second half of the day, and the two problems may overlap one another. For this reason, give yourself a wide safety margin. Steer clear of all slopes steeper than 30 degrees experiencing wind loading and holding over eight inches of new storm snow.
The powerful winds will make it possible for wind slabs to form in more forested areas and further down on slopes. Natural avalanches are likely and will be big enough to bury a person. Be cognizant of your surroundings, like terrain traps, and monitor the depth and reactivity of surface slab growth. Large shooting cracks, whumphing, and recent avalanches are red flags telling you the snowpack is unsafe.
(3/13/2023)
Storm slab breaking along convex rollover below treeline
Photo: Eric Falconer