Wind Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2
Blowing snow was observed on Wednesday, wind loading lee slopes. The 4-5" of new snow in the last few days may not seem like much, but wind blown snow can accumulate many times deeper than the snow produced by the storm.
Most avalanches will be on the small side, but isolated pockets of terrain that catch a lot of blowing snow could harbor wind slabs deep enough to lead to a large avalanche.
Triggering a wind slab avalanche will be more likeley in steep, convex, and unsupported terrain. Monitor the depth of wind transported snow. As wind deposits become deeper, wind slab avalanches can become larger. Use low angle or small test slopes to monitor wind slabs before committing to steep slopes.
Wind slabs can be found below ridgetops, high points, and around features that catch blowing snow from cross slope winds.
Wind slabs may be found in places like clearings and areas with sparse trees even below treeline. Burned areas and slopes with dead trees can experience a big wind affect and get a lot of wind deposited snow.
(4/12/2023)
Blowing snow and active cross loading from the northwest wind on Wednesday. This is a north facing slope near treeline.
Photo: Aaron Hartz