Wind Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 1–2
Yesterday, a skier triggered a wind slab avalanche in the southern Sawtooths while entering steep, exposed terrain. Today, triggering similar avalanches remains likely.
What and where is it? Recent wind and snowfall formed slabs and drifts up to 2 feet thick in upper and some middle elevation locations, and they will continue to grow today. Some slabs overlie crusts and/or thin layers of weak, faceted snow; the wind slabs could be easy to trigger and break wider than expected on some slopes.
How can we recognize and manage this problem? Fortunately, the fresh wind slabs are fairly easy to spot and avoid. Watch for smooth pillows below ridgelines and cornices as well as on the sides of cross-loaded gullies. Dunes and ripples on the surface are clues the wind has been at work transporting snow. If you feel the snow surface getting stiffer, it's time to pay attention. Cracks shooting out from your skis or sled are an obvious sign that you've found a wind slab. Hard wind slabs sound hollow, like a drum, and behave unpredictably; they can break above you and wider than expected.
Additional discussion: It is possible trigger 1.5-2’ thick avalanches in terrain sheltered from the wind. These avalanches could fail on a variety of old snow surfaces, such as crust, facets, or a combination of both. Additionally, loose snow avalanches (sluffs) are possible in steep terrain. Sluffs could trigger larger slab avalanches lower on aprons and in alpine bowls.
(1/2/2026) A wind slab avalanche triggered while stomping from low angle terrain above. 9500' NE facing slope near Butterfield.