Wind Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2
Overall, information from the upper alpine terrain has still been limited and winds have rotated to prevail from the SW last night and are predicted to become more westerly today and move to the north tonight. Relatively cold temperatures the past 2 nights, settlement, and bonding is surely helping secure wind deposits and sheltered powder, but it wouldn’t be surprising if there is lingering potential for pockets of wind slab in steep cross-loaded terrain and confined couloirs that are advantageous for harboring deeper deposits . Additionally, there is a chance of new snow today, and lately we have been consistently exceeding expectations with these northerly upslope events that have been producing more snow in the June Lake area. Although we feel overall conditions are trending to Low danger, the uncertainty of stubborn wind slabs and new snow today make me air on the side of caution and keep the Upper alpine at Moderate throughout the forecast zone. The key point being that human triggered avalanches are still possible although distribution may be more isolated and large size (D2) being relegated to the most extreme and complex terrain. High alpine terrain yesterday outside of Bishop looked to harbor fairly well- loaded soft snow on northerly aspects and winds were beginning to pick up in the afternoon and blew overnight. Pay attention to changing conditions if new snow kicks in today and if heating of sunny aspects takes place in the area of your travels. The most heavily wind- loaded aspects from Tuesday’s violent N-NE winds were the S-SW aspects which will be affected by warming. Be on the lookout for uneven snow surfaces and areas of heavy wind deposited snow, especially cross-loaded zones in the leeward of rock outcroppings and other terrain features.