Wind Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Possible
- Dimensione
- 1–2
The Summit Lake area has received just a few inches of new snow in the last few days and surfaces previous to this were mostly firm with wind effect. There is not much snow to move around in this area with a pulse of new wind today so fresh wind slabs should be on the small side. The photo to the right is a good example of what the upper elevations looked like a few days ago before this series of weak storms arrived. That all being said, Summit Lake is a large area and there may be snow to move around in some places, so watch for blowing snow and avoid the drifts where it is being deposited. A shooting crack is a sign that a wind slab needs time to bond to the snow beneath. Cornices will continue to grow with new wind and can be more sensitive during stormy periods like this.
Wet Loose: Temperatures remained above freezing at road level overnight and are forecast to remain warm today. If the snow surface is moist and you see roller balls, that is an indication that wet loose avalanches could be human triggered. These can be a problem if we get caught up in them and they take us into hazards like rocks and trees.
Another glide avalanche was spotted yesterday on Wolverine in the Turnagain Pass zone. Glide cracks may be more difficult to see with a little new snow covering them so keep a careful eye out to avoid being underneath or falling in from above.
(2/12/2025)
A snowpit from last week in the upper elevations of Colorado in the Summit Lake area. Stiff wind crust existed in many places before this last round of winds with very little new snow.
Photo: Caleigh Warner