Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–1.5
The most likely place to trigger an avalanche is on steep slopes where winds drift snow into firm slabs. These avalanches will most likely be small, but you could run into trouble in steep rocky terrain or where winds have crossloaded steep slopes beneath ridgelines.
Cracking in recently drifted snow is a sign of an unstable slope and an indication to move to lower-angle wind-sheltered terrain.