Avalanche Forecast

Thursday will be a relative break in the stormy weather, but strong winds continue to build fresh wind slabs. Look for signs of wind transported snow such as cornices, firm or textured snow surfaces, and drifts of snow adjacent to scoured areas. Where you see signs of wind transported snow avoid slopes steeper than 35 degrees.

Recent storm snow seems to be bonding well to the freezing rain layer from Monday night. You may still be able to trigger a slab within the storm snow at lower elevations on steep, convex or unsupported slopes. Evaluate the bond between new and old snow where you can feel the freezing rain crust beneath the recent snow.

Limited observations have been made recently above treeline due to the strong winds and near-zero visibility. This report documents heavy riming on windward slopes, however it is still possible that large wind slabs exist on lee slopes at upper elevations. Avoid travel on or below wind loaded slopes above treeline.

Release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.

Wind Slabs form in specific areas, and are confined to lee and cross-loaded terrain features. They can be avoided by sticking to sheltered or wind-scoured areas..

Wind Slab avalanche. Winds blew from left to right. The area above the ridge has been scoured, and the snow drifted into a wind slab on the slope below.

Wind slabs can take up to a week to stabilize. They are confined to lee and cross-loaded terrain features and can be avoided by sticking to sheltered or wind scoured areas.