Persistent Slabs
- Alta montaña
- Límite del bosque
- Bajo el límite del bosque
- Probabilidad
- Possible
- Tamaño
- 1.5–2.5
The biggest concern for an avalanche that could bury a person or worse is from failure of old, weak, faceted snow. This weak layer is located beneath the new snow around crust layers in the lower portion of the snowpack and at the ground. The locations of greatest concern are near treeline and below treeline across NW-N-NE aspects above about 7,500' to 8,000'. These are the places that held the most early season snow which sat on the ground and became weak. This weak snow will continue to receive load and stress today, tonight, and tomorrow, likely taking it to the breaking point sometime before this series of storms is over. New snow thus far has been unevenly distributed around the forecast area, creating uncertainty for exactly when and where avalanches will occur within the forecast area.
Snowpack collapse, shooting cracks, and avalanches will be the signs that the snowpack is approaching or is at its breaking point. Be careful with interpreting snowpit tests right now. You could easily get "false-stable" results if you don't dig in the right place. Move carefully around the NW-N-NE aspect locations of concern. You could trigger an avalanche from low on the slope due to the type of weak layer.
