Wind Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 1–2
As of Sunday evening, it is snowing in the mountains and we've already picked up several inches of new snow. The wind forecast is for Calm and Light winds, but it is hard for me to imagine snow falling at upper elevations under perfectly calm conditions. Wouldn't that be great! Likely winds will be at least Light near treeline and in the alpine. This would lead to somewhat predictable loading patterns with wind deposited snow immediately to the lee, or downwind from features like ridge tops. Look for signs of wind transport like "scallop" marks on windward slopes, and then smooth pillowy textures on the leeward slopes. Another easy clue is variable depths of the new snow with shallower snow on windward slopes and deeper deposits to the lee. Making observations on slopes that are less than 30 degrees or on small pieces of terrain is your safest bet.
Remember that wind deposited snow can be 3-5 times as deep as what's accumulated in sheltered meadows and glades.