Wind Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 2
Westerly and southwesterly winds have been cranking the past few days, with overnight gusts above 60 mph on Strawberry Top and the Summit of Powder Mountain. These winds have formed soft and hard slabs of wind-drifted snow on upper and some exposed mid-elevation slopes, though mainly isolated to the upper elevations. While slabs are most prominent on leeward slopes, cross-loading from shifting winds can affect any aspect.
With winds remaining strong today, slabs will continue to grow. Fresh wind-drifted snow may be up to 12 inches deep, possibly deeper in upper-elevation alpine terrain. Watch for pillow-shaped deposits and avoid them. Signs of instability, such as shooting cracks, collapsing, and overhanging cornices, signal unstable snow.
At upper elevations, where slabs have stiffened from prolonged winds, they may allow travel farther onto the slope before instability appears.