Wind Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Possible
- Dimensione
- 2
Drifting of the new snow by westerly winds created stiffer wind slabs on the lee side of major ridges and in and around terrain features like sub ridges, gully walls, mid-slope roll-overs, and under cliff bands. In some areas, these will likely be easy for people to trigger, and even small avalanches of stiffer, wind-drifted snow could run fast and far on the slick crust formed during last week's warm temperatures.
- Shallow loose and soft slab avalanches of heavy new snow are also possible on steep slopes at all elevations across the zone.
- Even small avalanches of wind drifted and/or new snow could run faster and farther than expected on a slick crust and, in steep terrain, could push or carry people into terrain traps below, like trees, rocks, or gullies.
- Avoid recent drifts or wind slabs on steep slopes. Wind slabs are made up of stiffer, redeposited snow that may be more supportable than the surrounding powder. Lense-shaped drifts often make hollow, drum-like sounds.
- Cracking is an obvious sign of wind slab instability.