Wind Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Very Likely
- Dimensione
- 3
People are likely to trigger dangerous wind slab avalanches, consisting of drifted storm snow, in wind exposed terrain on many upper and mid-elevation slopes. Natural cornice falls and large wind slab avalanches are also likely as a tremendous amount of fresh snow has drifted into avalanche starting zones.
- Wind slabs are stiffer than surrounding snow, and they are smooth, rounded and chalky looking, and can sound hollow, like a drum when you move around on them.
- Wind slabs will be found on the lee side of major ridges and corniced slopes facing northwest through southeast, with the majority facing the east half of the compass.
- Drifts and stiff slabs of wind-drifted snow also exist on all aspects in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, gullies, scoops, and cliff bands.
- Cracking and whumpfs are sure signs of instability.