Wind Slabs
- Alta montaña
- Límite del bosque
- Bajo el límite del bosque
- Probabilidad
- Likely
- Tamaño
- 1–2
Recent Avalanches: Fresh avalanche debris was observed in V-max yesterday. A natural avalanche cycle was reported in the mountains surrounding Seward which likely occurred three days ago. Several large avalanches were reported in the Lost Lake area that likely released a week ago.
There is a good chance of triggering a wind slab avalanche 1 to 2’ deep or deeper on wind loaded slopes. These will likely be in upper elevations as the rain/snow line likely reached 3,000’ yesterday. Ridgetop winds out of the east are forecast to average 5 to 15 mph today.
This type of problem is commonly found below ridgelines and in gullies. Feeling for stiff snow and/or shooting cracks underneath you are obvious signs you are traveling on a wind slab. There is a chance that a wind slab avalanche could step down into a deeper layer of buried facets producing a much larger avalanche.
Wet Loose Avalanches: We are seeing wet loose avalanches after several days of above freezing temperatures and heavy amounts or rain that has saturated the snowpack. Overnight temperatures have started to cool below freezing which is a good thing, however this problem will remain a concern if there is not a hard crust on the surface and you are sinking into warm wet snow. These can start small and get larger quickly, entraining a lot of snow. They can be hard to escape and could pull you off cliffs, into terrain traps or into trees.
(2/2/2026)
Small natural avalanche in V Max area.
Photo: Marc Heifetz
