Wind Slabs
- Alta montaña
- Límite del bosque
- Bajo el límite del bosque
- Probabilidad
- Unlikely - Possible
- Tamaño
- 1–1.5
Steady wind from the southwest and northwest has left some unstable slabs on steep alpine slopes.
Watch for wind slabs and cornices in steep alpine terrain, and be careful on sunny slopes when the surface is moist or wet.
Steady wind from the southwest and northwest has left some unstable slabs on steep alpine slopes.
Where cornices exist they pose a threat both from the potential to collapse under your feet (or machine) and from the potential to send large chunks of snow far down a slope.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy, 40 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperatures around -4 C.
SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, 30-50 km/h southwest wind, freezing level climbing to at least 1800 m, treeline temperatures around -2 C.
SUNDAY: Scattered flurries with 5-15 cm of snow, 40-50 km/h southwest wind, freezing level climbing to 1800 m, treeline temperatures around -2 C.
MONDAY: Another 5-10 cm of snow by the morning then cloudy with isolated flurries during the day, 20 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperatures drop to -8 C.
Recent avalanche activity has been limited to small (size 1-1.5) wind slab avalanches, dry loose sluffs, and cornice falls. These have occurred on a range of aspects, and will continue to be possible on wind-loaded or sun-exposed slopes.
The surface consists of 10-20 cm of dry snow on shady sheltered slopes and moist and crusty surfaces on sun exposed slopes. Gusty westerly winds have formed some isolated wind slabs in lee features. A widespread crust layer from the mid-March warm spell can be found 20-40 cm deep, and small surface hoar has been observed at this depth on some isolated north-facing slopes. Reports suggest the snow is generally well bonded to these layers. Deeper layers are strong and have been unreactive over the past few weeks.