Wind Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Likely
- Dimensione
- 1.5–3
Dangerous avalanche conditions continue to exist today. Winds slab formation driven by NE-SE winds has been ongoing for several days. Backcountry travelers should expect to find wind slabs that vary in age, sensitivity, and physical characteristics throughout all forecast zones and at all elevations. Recently deposited snow will be the most sensitive to human triggers today and will likely be softer and thinner than slabs formed more than 24 hours ago. Older slabs will be harder, deeper. and stubborn to triggers. Be cautious about venturing out onto slopes with seemingly unreactive hard slabs. These may be triggered by hitting a thin spot or by triggering a small avalanche that steps down into a deeper layer. Although stubborn to triggers, harder slabs may be able to propagate long distances creating destructive avalanches.
Human-triggered avalanches 1-2 feet deep are likely in areas with fresh windslab. Deeper hard slabs to 4 feet deep will also be possible to trigger in specific areas.
Pay attention to the direction of the wind and translate that information into what slopes will be loaded. Try to plan your route today to avoid these slopes. Wind slabs will have a hollow drum-like feel today and shooting cracks or collapsing are red flags that indicate that a slope has the energy to produce an avalanche.
With Northerly winds Subsiding, the windslab problem is expected to decrease after today. Stay tuned for updates on the situation,
(1/30/2025)
Remote triggered Hard slab. Comstock lowers.
Photo: Gareth Brown