Wind Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Unlikely
- Size
- 2
Human-triggered wind slab avalanches remain possible today, especially on exposed, upper-elevation slopes where snow has been recently drifted by wind. Cornices built by storm winds may break farther back than expected and could trigger avalanches on the slopes below.
- Watch for signs of wind drifts such as rounded, pillow-like features, chalky or stiff snow, hollow or drum-like sounds, and cracking underfoot.
- Softer, newly formed wind slabs are generally easier to trigger, while older, harder slabs can be more deceptive— sometimes allowing people to travel well out onto them before failing suddenly.
- Avoid travel on or beneath cornices and on steep slopes with stiff deposits of wind-drifted snow.
We have not seen recent avalanches failing on buried persistent weak layers, and snowpit tests continue to show improving stability. However, poor snowpack structure still likely exists in isolated, steep, rocky terrain with a shallow snowpack. In these areas, a wind slab avalanche could step down into older weak snow, resulting in a much larger and more dangerous slide.
In the Ogden Zone, a snowmobiler triggered a sizeable wind slab avalanche in the Monte Cristo area Saturday. Luckily, the rider who did not have avalanche rescue equipment was able to ride off to the side.
