Wind Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 2
The wind has now been blowing at elevated speeds for the past 24 hours now. This morning the latest wind reading on Logan Peak is 47 mph gust 60. This wind combined with roughly a foot of new snow over the past two days has created sensitive soft or hard slabs of wind-drifted snow. Human-triggered avalanches 1-2 feet deep will be likely on wind-loaded slopes (wind slabs).
The tricky part: The wind direction is from the northeast which is not our typical loading pattern. In fact, the wind hardly ever blows from this direction. So, be on guard for unusual wind loading. Remember wind-drifted snow can look wavy, pillowy, or it can be hard and sound hollow like a drum.