Central Sierra Nevada

Lawinenprobleme

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  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Likely

  Größe

  1–2

  The slabs of wind drifted snow that formed during yesterday's storm still lurk on the leeward side of ridges, in gullies, and on open slopes exposed to the wind. Some blowing snow may continue to add to these wind slabs today. These wind slabs could still break loose from the snow below them in response to a person recreating on a wind-loaded slope. Human-triggered wind slab avalanches large enough to bury or injure a person will remain possible today. The largest wind slabs will exist in near and above treeline terrain on NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects. The strong April sun could further weaken the wind slabs and make it easier to trigger a wind slab avalanche on a sunny slope.

  Use clues like cornices above a slope, blowing snow, scoured areas along a ridge, ripples on the snow surface, and drifts of wind-blown snow to help identify where unstable wind slabs may remain. Move cautiously around those areas. Traveling in wind-sheltered areas can help avoid potential wind slab issues and may provide softer, more consistent snow conditions.

  

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  Loose Wet

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Possible

  Größe

  1–2

  The strong April sunshine will cause the new snow to warm up and get wet today. The sun climbs high enough in the sky for the rapid warming to affect most slopes. Wet loose avalanches will become possible as the day progresses. Some of these could entrain enough snow to cause problems for backcountry travelers especially on long steep slopes or in areas near gullies, cliffs, creeks, or other terrain traps that magnify the consequences of an avalanche. In areas where the new snow remains more cohesive, triggering a soft slab avalanche may not be impossible as the new snow warms up.    

  Snow conditions will change quickly as the day warms up. Once the new snow starts to feel heavy/wet or you see any signs of wet snow instability like rollerballs or pinwheels, it is time to move to an area where the snow remains cold or onto lower angle slopes without avalanche terrain above them.