Wind Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 1
With minimal snow coming in over night, wind slab avalanches will be on the small side. Triggering a small wind slab in steep terrain, could knock you off your feet. Otherwise, the potential for going for a ride is minimal.
Monitor depth of new wind slabs, if you observe wind drifted snow deeper than 8" then triggering a wind slab avalanche will be something to watch out for.
Wind can drift snow many times deeper than the snowfall accumulation.
Wind slabs tend to form below ridges and high points and on other features that catch blowing snow. Look for visual signs such as pillows of wind difted snow, and a wavy or uneven surface texture to indicate a surface may be wind loaded. Recently formed cornices can also be clues that wind slabs are present. Cracking in the new formed slabs on small test slopes is a good indication that you could trigger a wind slab avalanche in the right terrain.