Wind Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Likely
- Dimensione
- 1–2
High snow levels and freezing fog have dampened and encrusted snow surfaces, locking up any snow available for transport in near treeline elevations.
During the daylight hours today, near treeline wind slab avalanche danger will be LOW and it is unlikely that you will trigger an avalanche. However, conditions will change rapidly this evening as extreme southwest wind and intense snowfall hammer down on Mount Shasta. This will cause avalanche danger to rise to MODERATE near treeline.
Above the treeline, there is still soft snow ready to be sculpted by the wind. Additional loading by heavy snow and extreme wind tonight will cause the avalanche danger to spike to CONSIDERABLE.
For both near and above treeline elevations, you will be most likely to find wind slabs on NW, N, NE, and E aspects. Though, above the treeline, there has been variability in the wind direction and any brief period of wind shift has created the potential to find wind slabs on all aspects of the compass.
If you'll be above treeline today or in the backcountry overnight, you could trigger an avalanche large enough to bury you. Wind slabs appear as lens-shaped pillows that are deeper than the surrounding snowpack. If you're on a wind slab, it may feel denser than surrounding snow and have a hollow, drum-like sound to it. If you observe any collapsing or shooting cracks, you have found unstable snow and should reevaluate your surroundings. Keeping your awareness elevated for the aforementioned and traveling one at a time through avalanche terrain will help you mitigate your exposure to risk in the backcountry.