Wind Slabs
- Alta montaña
- Límite del bosque
- Bajo el límite del bosque
- Probabilidad
- Likely
- Tamaño
- 1–2
Consistent W/SW wind mixed with a significant amount of new snow has created widespread soft wind slabs in the upper elevations and specific to exposed terrain in the middle elevations. Fresh wind slabs depths will range 2-3 feet. The nature of these sustained winds above 20 mph has altered the new snow drastically, especially in upper elevations, resulting in upside down and sensitive slabs. These slabs will be reactive today with plenty of snow available to continually transport and increase slab depths. All this new snow sits on a variety of old interfaces composed of crusts and facets buried March 20th. Triggering a large avalanche with wide propagation on this interface will be easiest in wind loaded terrain, with remote triggering possible.
Look for obvious signs of instability such as cracking, stiffened surfaces and drifts.