Wind Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Likely
- Dimensione
- 1–2
With more new snow coming in combined with moderate to strong winds out of the west, wind slabs will continue to build on lee terrain. The rate of snowfall will be less compared to the last few days, but the wind can still move a lot of snow. Lee features below ridges and highpoints will be places where triggering wind slab avalanches will be more likely. Also blowing snow moving across slopes can lead to the phenomenon of cross loading where wind slabs form across a slope or mountain face. Be cautious with your terrain choice and remember wind slabs are most sensitive to triggering when they are fresh. Avoid the big pillows of wind drifted snow in start zones. Any time you see cracking in recent wind deposited snow or recent avalanches, recognize these as signs of unstable snow.
Use carefull evaluation in areas of sparse trees, clearings, and sections of dead forests. Open areas 'below treeline' can get enough blowing snow to create wind slabs.