Wind Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 1–2
The vast majority of our snowfall events are accompanied by SW wind. This storm has been different, with a constant NE wind. As a result, expect the distribution of wind slabs to be different from a typical day with new snow. The substantial bias in snowfall amounts from one portion of the forecast area to another will also make this avalanche problem present in some locations within the forecast area and completely absent in others.
NE winds have blown and drifted new snow overnight, filling in places on the leeward sides of ridges, in gullies, and on open slopes. This is expected to have created cohesive slabs of locally deeper wind-deposited snow. These new wind slabs may have formed on top of either sugary faceted snow at the old snow surface or on top of firm ice.
Look for blowing snow. Identify where it has drifted and filled in, making locally deeper areas of new snow within the terrain. These are the locations of concern for a wind slab avalanche. Recent avalanches and cracking in the snow surface are clear signs that new wind slabs are unstable. Traveling in wind protected areas such as tree-covered slopes or places where other terrain blocks the wind can reduce exposure to this avalanche problem.