Wind Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 2
Over the last 24 hours, the Northwest winds have been gusting up to 60 mph at upper elevations. While there isn't a ton of soft snow available for transport, with elevated winds any weakening snow, or lingering new snow that is available for transport, will be transported. For that reason, I would expect small pockets of fresh wind drifted snow along exposed ridges on all aspects of upper elevations, and specific terrain features that would allow for drifting at mid-elevations, like sub-ridges and gullies. Although drifts will be relatively shallow (up to 12") and not very wide, these wind drifts may be sensitive if they have formed on top of weaker snow underneath.
Evaluate each slope carefully and look for any signs of instability such as cracking in fresh wind drifts, whumping, or textured-looking snow.
In any sheltered areas that were not impacted by the wind, you may be able to find fast and long-running sluffing of dry snow on steep northerly aspects. Although these sluffs won't entrain much snow, getting caught in even a small avalanche today could be serious in consequential terrain.
