Wind Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Likely
- Größe
- 1–2
Recent storm snow with wind speeds sufficient to move snow have created new wind slabs. As visibility increases on Thursday, be cautious if you venture into the mid and upper elevations. New wind slabs are especially sensitive to triggering. Take some time to evaluate slopes especially if you are going into steep and committing terrain. A good strategy is to check out low angle terrain or small test slopes to check depth and reactivity of wind slabs. If you see cracking in the slab or recent avalanches, these are good indicators of unstable snow. The melt freeze crust underneath the recent snow is a great reference point for checking depth of wind slabs. As wind slabs become deeper, avalanches can become larger. Below ridges and high points are common places where wind slabs form. Wind moving snow across a slope can fill in gully features and is also something to watch for especially in steep terrain.
Open slopes below treeline may also have wind slabs. Areas of dead or sparse trees, exposed ridges, and clearings can have enough of a wind effect to get wind slab formation.
(4/15/2026)
Cracking in wind slab on Wednesday. SE aspect near treeline. This was on a small test slope that was about 5 feet tall. I did not have to go out into a start zone on a big slope to gain this information.
Photo: Aaron Hartz