Wind Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 1–2
Unstable snow is expected to linger today in places that were filled in with blowing and drifting snow. Use clues of recent drifting such as cornice formations, wind pillows, snow surface texture, scoured vs load side of ridgetops, and snow surface cracking to identify slopes of concern. Move around these areas with caution or consider avoiding them. Less avalanche hazard and potentially better powder conditions exist on wind protected slopes below treeline.
The recent storm snow appears to have bonded well to itself in wind protected areas, leaving the greatest potential for lingering instability in wind loaded terrain. This has prompted the change from yesterday's storm slab problem to today's wind slab problem. Observations from yesterday noted a fair bit of variation in the ease of triggering slabs in wind loaded areas. Evaluate each wind loaded slope carefully, anticipating some variation of stability from one to the next.
Dec 26: Small wind slab failure intentionally triggered on a test slope. Carson Pass area, CA
Photo: David Reichel (SAC Pro Observer)