Central Cascades

Lawinenprobleme

• 

  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Possible

  Größe

  1–2

  I am moving this to all aspects due to the wind is expected to shift out of the northeast and east sometime in the morning. The wind speed will also be decreasing and we may or may not see significant wind loading on the westerly aspects but let's keep this in mind as a mental note to observe signs of blowing snow and any new wind slabs forming as the wind shifts. I expect the wind slabs on the west aspects to be small but it will be good to monitor the depth of wind deposted snow on these aspects. The chance for larger wind slabs will be on the north and east facing slopes due to the sustained west and southwest winds over the last few days. The moderate southwest winds will be moving snow overnight into the early morning hours before the wind direction shifts. 

  Hand sheer tests and ski pole probing are good methods to check for depth of wind slab. Previous avalanches and cracking in wind deposited snow are indicators that wind slab avalanches can occur. Utilizing small safe test slopes are good ways to check for reactivity in the slab.

  Watch for signs of wind transported snow in clearings and areas of sparse or dead trees. These areas can be exposed to wind blowing snow and wind slabs can develop.