Wind Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 1–2
Southwesterly winds switched direction in the early morning hours to blow from the Northeast as a low pressure system swings through the region. A light shot of new snowfall (1”) overnight and potentially a bit more during the day today, combined with plenty of residing cold new snow on northerly aspects, will produce fresh wind slab on N-NW-W-SW-S-SE aspects. There is also potential for these northerly winds to destabilize fresh cornices and cross load, strip, and erode northerly aspects in dynamic ways. Northerly winds are slated to be strong to extreme today with gusts up to 70mph in the highest elevations, so there could be some erratic loading patterns as well as unpleasant conditions if travelling on ridgeline. Biggest concerns for sensitive wind slab will be in the Upper elevations, as well as at the Middle elevation/ Tree line zones especially where there has been more recent snow such as the Mammoth to June Lake areas. Be on the lookout today for recent avalanche activity, actively transporting snow, and sensitive surface conditions under foot such as shooting cracks and collapsing of the snowpack. Identify fresh looking pillows and ribbons of newly deposited snow especially adjacent to ridgeline and in areas of complex terrain conducive to capturing windblown snow.