Wind Slabs
- Alta montaña
- Límite del bosque
- Bajo el límite del bosque
- Probabilidad
- Unlikely - Possible
- Tamaño
- 1–2
Reactive wind slabs remain possible, particularly on shaded slopes at higher elevations where dry snow persists.
Slab avalanches are possible on high-elevation north-facing slopes where dry snow exists.
Expect loose wet avalanche activity to increase through the day with warming and periods of sun.
Reactive wind slabs remain possible, particularly on shaded slopes at higher elevations where dry snow persists.
A layer of weak faceted snow with a firm crust is buried 100 to 200 cm deep. Recent avalanches on this layer were triggered by strong solar input and warm temperatures. The greatest concern for triggering exists in rocky alpine start zones.
Wet loose avalanches are most likely during periods of direct solar input and as temperatures rise later in the day.
Several loose wet avalanches, up to size 2, were reported on Friday during periods of warming and sun exposure.
On Wednesday in the Seaton area, our field team saw numerous natural wind slab avalanches up to size 2 from earlier in the week. They also saw a large (size 2.5) naturally triggered persistent slab avalanche on a south-facing slope at 1800 m.
On northerly, shaded alpine terrain, up to 30 cm of recent snow is continuing to settle and bond over a crust formed earlier in April. This early-April crust is strong and supportive at elevations of 1600 m and below, but gets thinner and weaker at higher elevations. Crusty surfaces are expected on sun-exposed slopes and at lower elevations.
A layer of weak, sugary snow over a thick crust is buried 100 to 200 cm and continues to produce large, surprising avalanches.
Check out this Conditions Update video for tips on managing the current spring conditions.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy. Up to 4 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Saturday
Mix of sun and clouds. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 mm of rain at treeline. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.