Storm Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Likely
- Dimensione
- 1–2
Storm slabs are more likely to be found and triggered further north in this forecast zone. You'll find the greatest snowfall totals from the past several days in the Snake River, northern Wyoming and Gros Ventre ranges. The new snow can break on mid-storm layers or deeper on a crust from the last warm spell. These crusts also have some facets around them, forming a potential point of failure and sliding surface for avalanches. Check out this observation as a good example of this problem. These crusts exist on all aspects up to 9,000'. The lower elevation snowpack is thin in most areas making avalanches less likely except in isolated areas.
You may find wind slabs in some locations today as well, most likely on W-N-E aspects. Slabs will be on the smaller side but could entrain enough snow to be dangerous. Look for cross-loading where wind funnels through passes and across gullies and signs of drifting on or below ridgetops or beneath cliffs.
(2/7/2024)
This avalanche was 2' thick, occured on a 30 degree slope and was triggered from a distance on Feb 7 in the Snake River Range. NE aspect, 8800'.