Wind Slabs
- Alta montaña
- Límite del bosque
- Bajo el límite del bosque
- Probabilidad
- Likely
- Tamaño
- 1.5–2.5
Strong winds will transport new snow into hard slabs on the leeward side of ridges, gullies, and saddles. Slabs will become thicker and more dangerous as snow totals accumulate throughout the day. Expect to manage a more widespread Storm Slab problem if precipitation totals exceed 8 inches of new snow. New snow is landing on a firm crust, making it so a triggered avalanche could run far distances.
Let precipitation totals guide your travel today. Seek more conservative terrain if more than 6 inches of new snow has accumulated. Cracking around your skis or board indicates you’ve found a slab. Use small, inconsequential test slopes to assess new snow sensitivity, and avoid areas with active wind loading.
(12/7/2025)
This image is of cross-loaded gullies. The arrows indicate the wind-direction. Note the scoured rock and snowy gullies. I'd expect to find hard slabs of wind-drifted snow in gullies today.
Photo: Michael Reavis