Wind Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Very Likely
- Größe
- 1–2
The chance for natural and human triggered avalanches will increase today as additional snowfall and strong southwest to west winds further load slabs that were formed overnight by nearly a foot of new snow. These slabs are forming on faceted snow on north facing terrain above 8500' and on hard crusts at higher elevations on southerly aspects. Slab depths could reach as much as 3 feet later this afternoon in high elevation avalanche terrain that is prone to wind loading. Steep slopes at mid elevations that show less signs of wind loading may also be sensitive with depths to eighteen inches given the rapid loading of the storm and the poor structure below. Avalanches at low elevations are not expected today except for in isolated areas of very steep terrain.