Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Problemas de aludes

• 

  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alta montaña
  • Límite del bosque
  • Bajo el límite del bosque

  Probabilidad

  Very Likely

  Tamaño

  1–2

  The 5-6 inches of snow that fell overnight arrived with moderate to strong SW winds. Another 5-8 inches is expected today with SW/W winds gusting in the 40s mph. By the end of the day, expect to find drifts 1-2 feet thick above 8000 feet in terrain exposed to the wind. Warming temperatures will create upside down conditions. You are very likely to trigger wind slabs on steep wind loaded slopes at upper elevations. Pay close attention around ridgelines, steep rocky slopes exposed to the wind and cross loaded gullies. Recent snow sits on a variety of surfaces, but most concerning is a widespread crust buried 2 days ago. Wind slabs could run far and wide on this crust and be larger than expected.

  If forecasted amounts arrive by evening, look for slab development in the middle elevations, including more sheltered areas. Collapsing and shooting cracks indicate instability.

  

• 

  Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alta montaña
  • Límite del bosque
  • Bajo el límite del bosque

  Probabilidad

  Unlikely

  Tamaño

  1.5–2.5

  Weak layers of snow that formed in November are buried 2-4 feet deep beneath hard slabs. These slabs have been largely unreactive recently due to a strong upper snowpack. However, new snow and wind continue to slowly load buried weak layers. While unlikely, the possibility remains that you could impact these weak layers and trigger a persistent slab avalanche. Very steep, rocky, and wind affected northerly slopes at upper elevations are most suspect.  Keep in mind that a surface avalanche involving new snow is the best way to trigger deeper weak layers.