Avalanche Advisory for 2018-11-23 11:15

It is important to give the snowpack time to adjust after a significant snowfall, as storm slab problems can last for a few hours to a few days. Storm slabs are the release of a soft cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within the storm snow or on the old snow surface. Often in the spring, new snow will fall on melt-freeze crusts (sun or rain crusts). These crusts provide a great bed surface for the new snow to slide on.

You can reduce your risk of getting caught in a storm slab avalanche by waiting a day or two after a storm before venturing into steep terrain. Storm slabs are most dangerous on slopes with terrain traps like gullies, cliff bands, dense timber, or terrain features that make it difficult for a rider to escape off the side. 

Winds slabs form during storms, for several days following a storm, and during high wind events. Pay attention to wind direction and how the wind transported snow is redistributed throughout the terrain. Use clues like blowing snow, cornice formation, and textured snow surfaces to identify areas where potentially unstable wind slabs exist. Look for typical signs of instability like recent avalanches, shooting cracks, and/or whumphing.