Wind Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Likely
- Dimensione
- 1–2
On Friday afternoon, blowing snow was visible in wind exposed areas. In near treeline terrain there were drifts double to triple the depth of new snow. I expect that trend to continue throughout Friday night and into Saturday. Even on the low side of the forecast, we could see 5+ inches of new snow by Saturday morning which could translate into winds slabs up to several feet thick. Expect wind slabs to be in forming on lee slopes.
Wind slabs are easiest to trigger while they are actively being formed and while they are still new. Saturday fits that description. Take loaded slopes seriously. In much of the terrain wind slabs will be small, but in specific pockets they will be large.
Watch for signs of blowing snow, fresh cornices, pillow drifts, and wavy surface texture as signs that slopes are wind loaded.