Wind Slabs
- Alta montaña
- Límite del bosque
- Bajo el límite del bosque
- Probabilidad
- Possible
- Tamaño
- 1–2
You could trigger thin wind slabs in exposed terrain. The slabs will grow thicker this afternoon and become more common as you climb in elevation. This problem is most pronounced in the western half of this zone near Dollarhide Summit and in the Soldier Mountains, where snow totals are greater. Some slabs will form on weak, sugary facets or crust + facet combinations; avalanches are easier to trigger in these areas and may break wider than expected. Some avalanches may release naturally late in the day or if the storm ramps up faster than expected.
You can manage this problem by monitoring the depth of new snow and looking for and avoiding wind-loaded slopes. Fresh cornices, dunes, and rippled snow surfaces are clues that the wind has been at work. Cracks shooting out in front of your skis or boards mean you've found a sensitive wind slab.