Wind Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Certain
- Dimensione
- 2–3.5
Strong to extreme SW winds, combined with abundant dry snow at higher elevations, are forming cohesive layers of wind-deposited snow in leeward terrain features. Wind-deposited snow accumulates more quickly than direct snowfall alone meaning that wind slabs in large start zones below ridgelines, or in cross-loaded terrain features may be many times larger than the amount of snowfall measured at weather stations. Wind slabs in leeward avalanche paths may run farther than expected due to better-than-usual coverage in tracks, especially at lower elevations.
A very large explosive triggered wind slab avalanche from 2017. With today's snowfall and wind avalanches like this may release naturally.
Photo: Matt Irons