Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Problèmes avalancheux

• 

  Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpin
  • Limite forestière
  • Sous la limite forestière

  Probabilité

  Possible

  Taille

  1.5–2.5

  Weak layers near the bottom of the snowpack are persisting below hard slabs 2-4 feet deep. This problem is most prominent on shaded aspects on the northerly half of the compass (NW-N-NE aspects) that have harbored weak snow the longest. All slopes highlighted in the aspect/elevation diagram above should remain suspect as these avalanches can behave in unpredictable patterns. Obvious signs of instability such as collapsing may not be present. Despite the lack of clues, remember it is still possible to trigger large, dangerous avalanches. Identify areas that remain the most suspect on rocky, unsupported, and wind affected slopes over 35° steep. These slopes contain thin, sensitive trigger points where it is easier to impact the buried weak layer, initiate a collapse, and cause an avalanche that can travel far across or upslope.

   

   

  

• 

  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpin
  • Limite forestière
  • Sous la limite forestière

  Probabilité

  Possible

  Taille

  1–1.5

  Recent snow combined with moderate northwesterly wind has formed slabs up to a foot thick in the upper elevations. Slabs up to 2 feet deep could be found in isolated terrain. These slabs have formed in less common areas due to the opposing wind (NW-N-NE) over the last few days. Identify areas with wind stiffened snow and move to more sheltered terrain if you encounter signs of instability such as large drifts, cracking, rippled surfaces, or ‘hollow-sounding’ snow. Use extra caution if you find wind loaded terrain that matches the same distribution of aspects and elevation as the persistent slab problem.

  Wind intensity increased yesterday to 20-30 mph with gusts to 50 mph. The wind direction has veered from northwest to northeast.