Wind Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–1.5
As the wind picks up on Monday, we could see blowing snow and new wind slabs forming on lee slopes. There is still soft snow available for transport and we will likely get a few inches of new snow falling in the afternoon. Montior the depth of wind drifted snow as you move through lee terrain below ridge tops and around features that catch blowing snow. The likelihood of triggering a wind slab will increase in the afternoon.
Most wind slab avalanches will be on the small side. As you observe increased depth of wind loaded snow, expect resulting avalanches to become larger. Be especially cautious on wind loaded slopes that are exposed to terrain traps. Look for new cornices or a rough, wavy, or chalky texture on the snow surface to indicate where wind slabs have formed.