Wind Slabs
- Alta montaña
- Límite del bosque
- Bajo el límite del bosque
- Probabilidad
- Likely
- Tamaño
- 1–2
Today's forecasted new snow and strong west/southwest winds will form sensitive wind slabs 1-2 feet deep at middle and upper elevations. Human-triggered avalanches will become likely today as moderate to strong winds transport new snow. At lower elevations, shallower wind slabs will become possible in steep exposed terrain features. Pillows, fresh cornices, and stiffened surfaces are all indicators that winds have recently loaded slopes. Conditions will change rapidly today, so stay alert for signs of instability such as recent avalanches and shooting cracks near exposed ridgelines and cross-loaded terrain features.
Older wind slabs formed earlier this week still linger on all aspects in middle and upper elevation bands. While these slabs are more difficult to trigger, they are sitting on weak interfaces and could break up to 3 feet deep unexpectedly. Triggering a fresh wind slab could step down to these deeper layers causing a larger more destructive avalanche. Over the past week, multiple deeper avalanches have been triggered, with the most recent report yesterday in the Snake River Range. Keep in mind that fresh snow has hidden signs of older slabs and visible warning signs may not be present. Carefully evaluate the snowpack for underlying slabs on wind-loaded terrain directly off ridgelines or around rocky, wind-affected slopes where you are more likely to encounter these avalanches.
(3/21/2025)
This avalanche was remotely triggered on a NE aspect at 9,170' by riders arriving on a sled on top of a slope and slid on the old/new interface around 2-3 feet deep.