Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–1.5
New snow and strong southwest wind have formed fresh wind slabs. These slabs could be touchy where the new snow sits on a hard and smooth melt-freeze crust.
Avalanche forecast
View on mapVancouver Island
Mar 13, 2022Avalanche Canada
Archived · expired 5 years ago
Avalanche danger
Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Highlights
Wind slabs may be small but they may slide easily on a slippery crust.
Avalanche problems
Confidence
High -
Weather Forecast
Saturday night: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5-10 cm, 50-60 km/h southeast wind, treeline temperature -3 C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Sunday: Cloudy, 20 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -1 C. Freezing level 1300 m.
Monday: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5-10 cm, 60-70 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -1 C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Tuesday: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5-15 cm in most areas, 30 cm closer to the coast, 50-60 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -1 C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches were reported. Looking forward, new slabs are expected to progressively form as the snow accumulates. The slabs may be easy to trigger if the snow doesn't bond well to the hard melt-freeze crust.
Snowpack Summary
New snow fell with strong southwest wind. The snow sits on a widespread hard melt-freeze crust found across the region. The crust is thickest at low elevations and on sun-exposed slopes. The crust may not exist on high alpine terrain on north aspects. The new snow may not bond well to this crust.
The remainder of the snowpack is well-bonded.
Below treeline, snowpack depths are below threshold for avalanches in many areas.
Terrain and Travel
- Although their spatial distribution is isolated, wind slabs are reactive.
- Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
- Keep in mind the crust offers an excellent bed surface for avalanches.