Wind Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 2
While many of the wind slabs that formed during the storm have become slightly more difficult to trigger, human triggering of these slabs remains possible. Stepping on or riding over trigger points or having more than one person on a slope would make triggering these wind slabs easier. In addition to the wind slabs that formed on the N-NE-E aspects during the storm, new wind slabs may have started to form on the opposite aspects (W-SW-S) since the winds have shifted to the north and east. These new wind slabs will remain smaller, but more sensitive than the older ones. The NW and SE aspects get cross loaded with both wind directions. Wind slabs could exist on any exposed near and above treeline aspects today. Most avalanches that result from the failure of these wind slabs should fail at or above the old snow surface; however, some of them could step down into older snow layers in areas where the wind slabs exist on top of old hard slabs on the NW-N-NE aspects. Avalanches involving wind slabs could entrain enough snow to bury a person.
Cornices above a slope, wind ripples, drifts, blowing snow, and other signs of wind loading can all serve as clues to help recognize slopes where wind slabs may exist. If a near or above treeline area looks nicely filled in and smooth and rounded, wind slabs likely exist in that area. Complex or extreme terrain like couliors and unsupported slopes will hold unstable wind slabs longer than other terrain and also have more potential consequences.
