Wind Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Possible
- Dimensione
- 1–2
Above treeline on Mount Shasta, uncertainty remains for the wind slab problem. We haven't seen any natural avalanches, but can't rule out human triggered slabs. Snow available for transport and wind are all that is necessary to keep those antennas up for wind slabs. While it seems unlikely at this point, small avalanches in specific areas or larger avalanches in isolated areas remain possible. Over the past 24 hours, wind has blown primarily out of the northwest, averaging 16 mi/hr with gusts to 49 mi/hr.
Look for clues like recent avalanche activity, blowing snow, new cornice formation, and snow surface clues as to where these wind slabs will be forming. Snow surface cracking in wind loaded terrain is a sign of unstable snow. Traveling in more wind protected, below treeline areas could provide better snow quality and minimize this avalanche problem.