Wind Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 2
The last few days of strong winds in combination with a few inches of overnight snow will drift and form fresh slabs today. These winds drifts will be small and stubborn, as they will have had only a few inches of snow to move around the last few days, but with elevated winds, any new snow that is available for transportation will be transported.
Look for shallow slabs of wind drifted snow on isolated upper elevation terrain features that snow could be deposited, such as ridgelines and gullies. With multiple days of winds from all directions, these wind drifts can be found on all upper elevation aspects.
Look for any slopes with signs of wind drifted snow, and avoid those slopes. Wind affected snow often looks wavy, rounded, pillowy, and can sound hollow when walking or riding on it.
Pay attention to cornices: Many ridgelines now have overhanging cornices, and Tuesday there were a few reports of cornice triggered wind slabs. A few days of strong winds at the uppermost ridgelines have made cornices even larger. Be sure to give cornices a wide berth as they typically break much further back than expected.