Wind Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Unlikely
- Größe
- 1
Look out for thin wind slabs created by westerly winds and new snow in east-facing terrain. These areas have an increased risk for small, human triggered avalanches. Identifying today’s avalanche problem is easy as the new snow will be white and appear smooth in contrast with the blueish and textured icy snow surface.
Keep in mind that this new snow is falling onto a slick bed surface from rain in the previous storm. Because of this interface, the new snow is unlikely to bond effectively to this surface. Consider that a small avalanche could create a fall that carries increased consequences with exposed rocks and trees below. Hand shears will be an effective tool to understand how the new snow is bonding to the old snow surface as well as using your ski pole to understand the depth of the wind-drifted snow.