Wind Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Likely
- Größe
- 1–2.5
The forecast zone has received 30-35 inches of snow since Saturday afternoon. Above treeline this snow has blown to the north and east. Wind slabs may exist on leeward slopes. Over the next 24 hours, up to 20 inches of new snow will combine with strong west and south winds to build slabs atop lower density snow.
Wind slabs can be denser than the storm snow and shaped like lenses or pillows. Cornices are indicators of wind-loaded slopes. Shooting cracks and hollow, drum-like sounding snow are also indicators of wind-slabs. Avoid these slopes today, and any terrain that is underneath them. Natural avalanches are possible and human triggered avalanches are likely.
Evaluate the snowpack carefully and be conservative when traveling in or near avalanche terrain.