Wind Slabs
- Alta montaña
- Límite del bosque
- Bajo el límite del bosque
- Probabilidad
- Likely
- Tamaño
- 1–2
A consistent stream of precipitation and moderate to strong wind continues to build wind slabs near and above the treeline. You will find the largest and most sensitive wind slabs above the treeline, where snowfall accumulations have been greater, temperatures have stayed below freezing, and there is available snow for transport. The most common aspects that you'll encounter this problem on today will face north, northeast, east,and southeast. Though, with these strong wind speeds and differing local wind directions across the forecast area, you may come across a wind slab in unexpected places such as mid-slope into the leeward side of terrain features (cross-loading) or on westerly aspects.
You could trigger a wind slab avalanche today large enough to bury or kill someone in your group.
So what can you do about it? Avoid traveling on or beneath wind loaded, steep slopes by looking for where the blowing snow is accumulating and feeling for denser snow underfoot.