Wind Slabs
- Alta montaña
- Límite del bosque
- Bajo el límite del bosque
- Probabilidad
- Possible
- Tamaño
- 1–2
We received reports of two wind slab avalanches triggered yesterday by backcountry travelers. One avalanche was wide propagating with an approximately 3 foot crown. The other was confined to a steep chute and had a 6 inch crown. A few natural wind slab avalanches occurred Thursday night as well. While we are expecting less instability today than yesterday, triggering a large avalanche remains possible.
Rising snow levels during snowfall Thursday/Thursday night deposited increasingly denser snow on top of less dense snow. This created a slab over weak layer that is most pronounced in areas where wind drifted snow was deposited. Expect to encounter the greatest hazard near ridgetops, in gullies, and on open slopes where wind-drifted snow was deposited.
Identify the slopes of concern, mainly those below cornice features or wind drifts. Move carefully around these areas, anticipating that an avalanche could be surprisingly wide.
(12/27/2024) This wide propagating wind slab avalanche was unintentionally triggered yesterday by a snowmobiler. NE aspect terrain near 8,800' by Lost Lakes, CA, south of Carson Pass.