Wind Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 1–3
Extreme winds have created hard windslabs up to 70 cm deep in alpine.
Freezing levels expected to hover at 1800 m for the next few days and rain is expected Tuesday. Likelihood of loose wet cycle below treeline will increase through the forecasting period.
Assess bond of new snow at higher elevations to old surfaces.
Extreme winds have created hard windslabs up to 70 cm deep in alpine.
Strong SW winds and 20-30 cm of snow is forecast for Monday, Tuesday. This will create fresh storm slabs that may not bond well to wind slabs. Investigate bond of new snow to old surfaces thoroughly.
Rain is forecasted to 1800m Monday Tuesday. Steep terrain below treeline will likely see wet loose activity on the March 3 melt freeze crust. Watch for signs of pin wheeling.
Sunday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Moderate to strong SW winds. Alpine high -3. Freezing level 1800m.
Monday: Flurries, 9 cm accumulation. Strong SW winds. Alpine high -3, low -7. FL 1400m.
Tuesday: Periods of snow, 17 cm accumulation. Moderate gusting extreme SW winds. Alpine high -3, low -7. FL 1800m.
Extreme SW winds and warm temps have pressed surface snow and created windslabs up to 70cm deep in alpine. This overlies old windslabs and the March 3 rain crust. An additional 50 cm of settling snow over the Feb 15 crust that exists up to 2000m. Lower snowpack is well settled 1F to P. HS 250-300 cm near the continental divide.
A Na size 2.5 wind slab avalanche was observed on Bertha peak on March 12. Several other wind slab avalanches to size 3 were reported in the park this week. As always keep those Mountain Information Network observations coming.