Wind Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 1–1.5
Through Sunday evening, moderate to at times heavy snowfall brought 8" of snowfall by Sunday evening. We're expecting storm totals in the 10" range. Moderate to strong winds peaked Sunday afternoon but should continue to transport snow onto lee slopes through Friday night. NWAC forecast Joe Dellaporta found touchy slabs near treeline on Pea Gravel Ridge, with propagating cracks and fresh sharp cornices serving as a reminder before he jumped on and intentionally triggered small avalanches on test slopes. While the active wind loading may not be present on Friday, these slabs will take time to heal. You can can also use small wind-loaded test slopes to evaluate how quickly the slabs are healing in your terrain. We expect reactive slabs in the morning that you can trigger on wind-loaded slopes steeper than 35 degrees. By the afternoon, most avalanches might be on steep, unsupported slopes as they become slightly more stubborn. As you ascend into above treeline terrain, expect to find large and well-connected slabs to the lee of ridgelines. These slabs will be more dangerous with a high potential for injury or worse. Large, overhanging cornices may break farther back than you expect along ridgelines and could trigger wind slabs on the slopes below if they fail.
We have enough snow that you could trigger a storm slab in very steep sheltered terrain, but the cooling trend makes dry loose avalanches more likely. Shallow wind slabs are also possible near exposed features below treeline.