Boletín de aludes

Eastside Region

Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
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Peligro de aludes

Thu
Alta montaña
2 · Moderado
Límite del bosque
1 · Débil
Bajo el límite
1 · Débil
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Desactualizado: este boletín caducó 2 years ago. Estás viendo condiciones pasadas, no el boletín vigente.

Lo esencial

You could trigger a wind slab avalanche on a variety of aspects today. Use caution where you see blowing snow or rippled drifts below alpine ridges, in couloirs, and downwind of trees. Assess for cracking in wind-packed snow before committing to big terrain. 

Problemas de aludes

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Possible
    Tamaño
    1–1.5

    Strong southwest winds and a few inches of new snow built fresh slabs on northeast aspects yesterday. These were small but sensitive to human triggers. They were larger at higher elevations. In many places, soft snow was redistributed onto the same aspects but did not form slabs. That soft snow will be available for north winds to move onto southerly aspects today and tomorrow. Watch for blowing snow and small cornices forming over steep slopes. Use caution where you find rippled, textured drifts downwind of trees and terrain features that re-direct the wind. Recent and fresh slabs can crack around you below ridgelines, on the sidewalls of couloirs and gullies, and below convexities and cliff bands. Even small wind slab avalanches can have big consequences in steep terrain.

    (3/12/2024)

    Fresh, thin, soft wind slabs were sensitive to my testing on isolated features. These were most common downwind of tree fences.

    Photo: Clancy Nelson

Avalanche Discussion

Extreme winds in early March stripped windward slopes, leaving hard wind-affected snow and not much soft snow available for drifting. The faceting process softened some surfaces and small wind slabs formed over hard crusts and a layer of softer, weaker snow. 

New snow was added to the mix as a brief, weak storm glanced the region yesterday. Skiers, forecasters, and ski patrollers across the region found small, but sensitive fresh wind slabs on north and east-facing slopes near and above treeline yesterday. These were larger at higher elevations because most of the new snow fell near the Sierra Crest. 

Winds are forecast to shift north and increase throughout the day. In favored areas, they can move some of the recent snow onto more southerly aspects where fresh slabs could form atop melt-freeze crusts, hard wind board, or rocky, wind-stipped start zones.

Firm and variable conditions mean localized assessments are important and sharp mountaineering equipment might be necessary depending on where you want to go. 

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