Wind Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Possible
- Dimensione
- 1–1.5
Blowing snow has collected into drifts up to 2 feet in thickness on east facing slopes of the middle and upper elevations. Observations yesterday reported cracking and human created instabilities in the newly formed slabs. With low visibility from overcast skies, it was not possible to see if significant wind loading or new avalanches had occurred or were left lingering in the steeper terrain, creating some uncertainty.
With just over 2 inches of snow accumulated in the past 36 hours, and winds gusting to 81 mph, expect to find stubborn to reactive slabs of drifted snow on leeward slopes. In contrast there has been significant scouring of the loose dry snow revealing older crusts. The more recent crust may still be unsupportive and surrounded by facets, while the old icy bed surface crust is firm and can hold the weight of many. Slick icy surfaces and weak layers within the snowpack are places where slabs can fail from the weight of a human.