Wind Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Likely
- Dimensione
- 1–2
Strong SW winds have been blowing snow onto slopes downwind of ridges, onto open slopes, and into gullies and will continue to do so today. The largest wind slabs will exist in near and above treeline terrain, but some wind slabs may also lurk in open areas below treeline due to the strength of the winds. Several wind slab avalanches occurred yesterday, and wind slab avalanches large enough to bury or injure a person remain likely today. The strong March sunshine could also make triggering these wind slabs easier on sunny slopes and cause the large and fragile cornices looming over many slopes to weaken or fail.
Blowing snow, ripples on the snow surface, cornices above a slope, drifted snow, and other wind-created textures can also help identify where wind slabs have formed. Recent avalanche activity and cracking in the snow represent obvious clues that unstable wind slabs lurk nearby. Travel plans prioritizing areas sheltered from the wind and avoiding wind-loaded slopes, areas below large cornices, and avalanche run-out zones can help reduce exposure to the wind slab problem.
(3/15/2025)
This wind slab avalanche may have been triggered by people based on the tracks near the avalanche. It is in a wind-loaded area just above Snow Shed Wall on Donner Summit.
Photo: Sierra Avalanche Center