Fresh wind-drifted snow

Wind + loose snow = slab avalanche. Wind-drifted snow leads to the formation of slabs that can produce dry slab avalanches, the single most dangerous type of avalanche. The avalanche danger increases first and foremost because the load on the snowpack increases. This can happen very quickly. If it is snowing at the same time as it is blowing, the avalanche danger increases even more.

Wind-drifted snow. Photo: Varsom