Wind Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible - Likely
- Size
- 1–2.5
Wind slabs will be most reactive below ridgetops and in cross-loaded features. If triggered, wind slabs may step down to deeper layers, causing larger avalanches.
A dangerous, persistent weak layer remains the primary concern in the alpine
Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazards.
Wind slabs will be most reactive below ridgetops and in cross-loaded features. If triggered, wind slabs may step down to deeper layers, causing larger avalanches.
A persistent layer of facets/crust is buried 80 to 150+ cm, and has recently produced very large avalanches. It appears to be most reactive in areas closer to the coast with diminished reactivity further inland.
At ridgeline and in exposed terrain, strong winds have left slabs and hard wind-pressed surfaces. Soft snow may still be found in wind-sheltered areas.
A persistent weak layer of facets and a crust is buried 80 to 150+ cm and extends up to around 1400 m. It continues to show reactivity in snowpack tests, and recent avalanches have failed on it. With the depth of this layer, the greatest concern for triggering is in shallow, thin to thick snowpack areas or from a large trigger, such as a cornice fall. It also appears to be most reactive in areas closest to the coast, with diminished reactivity further inland.
Friday & Saturday
Several naturally triggered size 1-2.5 slabs were observed on east through south aspects, at 1400 m and below.
Wednesday,
The field team saw both natural and rider-triggered slabs, see photos below.
Tuesday
Multiple widely propagating natural avalanches were observed, and a cornice was remotely triggered by sledders. More in this MIN.
Sunday Night
Clear skies. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
Monday
Sunny. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny. 10 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.