Wind Slabs
- Alpin
- Limite forestière
- Sous la limite forestière
- Probabilité
- Possible
- Taille
- 1–2
Lingering wind slabs may remain reactive to human triggers on northerly aspects in the alpine.
Lingering wind slabs may remain reactive to human triggers on northerly aspects in the alpine.
Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
Lingering wind slabs may remain reactive to human triggers on northerly aspects in the alpine.
Strong solar radiation will increase the likelihood of wet loose avalanches on sunny aspects in the alpine.
A weak layer of facets exists near the base of the snowpack. The likelihood of human triggering is low given the layer's depth, but large triggers such as cornice failures or smaller avalanches in motion have the potential to produce very large avalanches with surprisingly wide propagation. Suspect terrain for human triggering includes steep, shallow, and rocky terrain where the snowpack transitions from thin to thick.
Two very large (size 2.5-3) naturally triggered wet loose avalanches were reported on steep southerly aspects in the alpine on Sunday.
Additionally, numerous natural size 1-1.5 wet loose avalanches were reported on sunny aspects at treeline and above.
A naturally triggered size 1.5 wind slab was also reported on a north aspect in the alpine.
Expect to find a melt-freeze crust on the surface of all aspects at treeline and below and on sunny aspects in the alpine. Solar radiation will break down the crust on sunny slopes throughout the day.
Lingering wind slabs may remain reactive to human triggers on northerly aspects in the alpine.
30-50 cm down there is a sun crust on sunny aspects and surface hoar (3-10 mm) on isolated shady and sheltered slopes.
The mid-snowpack is generally strong but the lower snowpack is a different story..
The November facets are still prominent at the base of the snowpack. They are showing signs of improving but this layer remains a significant concern in rocky, shallow, or thin to thick snowpack areas at treeline and above.
Monday Night
Clear skies / 10 km/h northeast ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around -9 C / Freezing level valley bottom
Tuesday
Sunny / 10 km/h north ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around -1 C / Freezing level 1900 m
Wednesday
Sunny / 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around 1 C / Freezing level 2100 m
Thursday
Mix of sun and cloud / 20 km/h south ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around -3 C / Freezing level 1700 m
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.