Wind Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 2
Thicker and more widespread. The southwest winds will continue to scour and erode any available snow and deposit it in the form of a checkerboard of soft and hard wind drifts in the mid and upper elevations, even in odd and unusual locations.
In some areas, these drifts may land on weak snow surfaces formed over the past week and may be surprisingly sensitive. These areas are more likely sun and wind sheltered terrain where the weak snow surfaces are not as susceptible to decay. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that some are triggered at a distance today or tomorrow.
Drifts are often smooth, scalloped, and rounded (see Tom Diegel's excellent photo below of texture and cracking) and are often formed to the lee of terrain features such as ridgelines, sub-ridges, and rocky outcroppings. Soft wind slabs you're "in the snow" with your sled or skis; hard wind slabs you're "on top of the snow". Hard slabs are often trickier because they allow you to get well on to them before the collapse where the wind pillow/teardrop lens shape tapers down.
Danger Trend: Steady to Increasing
