Avalanche Forecast

Plenty of new snow sits in the terrain and will be most likely to trigger where it has formed a slab. Large and dangerous slabs are likely to form where (1) recent moderate winds which transported low density snow into a soft slab or where (2) settlement or the sun consolidates snow into a slab. The consolidation in many cases may occur during the day on Sunday, leading to increasingly reactive conditions as the day wears on. Travel in less wind-affected terrain, using visual clues such as recent soft cornices and textured snow surfaces to identify these problematic areas. Use small test slopes to gauge the storm slab problem. If you experience sudden settlement of the upper snowpack or cracking of the snow surface, you have a dangerous slab problem in your area. If you’re unsure whether this problem exists, it is best to choose supported terrain less than 35 degrees.

Release of a soft cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within the storm snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slab problems typically last between a few hours and few days. Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

You can reduce your risk from Storm Slabs by waiting a day or two after a storm before venturing into steep terrain. Storm slabs are most dangerous on slopes with terrain traps, such as timber, gullies, over cliffs, or terrain features that make it difficult for a rider to escape off the side.

Storm slabs usually stabilize within a few days, and release at or below the trigger point. They exist throughout the terrain, and can be avoided by waiting for the storm snow to stabilize.