Wind Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2
The Seward area has received roughly 4 to 6" of new snow in the last few days. A few more inches of snow could fall above 1,700' or so today, accompanied by some wind, making a fresh round of wind slabs. Surfaces were mostly firm with wind effect before this series of weak storms moved in on Friday, so there isn't a lot of snow to move around and new slabs should be relatively small. That all being said, Seward is a large area with varying weather patterns across the zone and there may be more snow to move around in some places, so watch for blowing snow and avoid the drifts where it is being deposited. A shooting crack is a sign that a wind slab needs time to bond to the snow beneath. Cornices will continue to grow with new wind and can be more sensitive during stormy periods like this.
Wet Loose: Temperatures remained in the mid to upper 30s F overnight at the Grouse Creek weather station at 700' and are forecast to remain warm today with light rain up to 1,700' or so. If the snow surface is moist, and you see roller balls, that is an indication that wet loose avalanches could be human triggered. These can be a problem if we get caught up in them and they take us into hazards like rocks and trees.
Another glide avalanche was spotted yesterday on Wolverine in the Turnagain Pass zone. There hasn't been much glide activity observed in the Seward/Lost Lake area, but glide cracks were spotted on marathon last week that are creeping downhill. There may be more out there so keep an eye out for glide cracks and avoid spending time underneath them if you find one.
(2/12/2025)
Surface conditions before this round of weak storms arrived Friday. Looking north towards Mt. Ascension.
Photo: Amanda Goss