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  1. Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind lips of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller.
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    Snow cornice - Wikipedia

    A snow cornice forms by wind blowing snow over sharp terrain breaks (e.g. the crest of the mountain) where it attaches and builds out horizontally. This build-up is most common on the steeper and leeward sides of mountains. Cornices are extremely dangerous and travelling above or below them should be … See more

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  4. What is a snow cornice? And how do you stay safe …

    Apr 4, 2024 · Snow cornices are overhanging masses of snow that are formed by wind. They build up over the course of the winter on the leeward (that’s downwind) side of ridgelines and mountain summits. These structures can be …

  5. Cornice Fall | Colorado Avalanche Information Center

  6. Wind conditions for snow cornice formation in a wind …

    Feb 8, 2023 · The predicted wind range for snow cornice formation is about 12.3 times the threshold wind speed, namely 10–22.6 m s −1, which agrees with the field observations. And the maximum cornice growth is for winds about 30 …

  7. Structural Characteristics of Snow Drifts and Cornices

    Among a number of researches on cornices in mountain regions, and drifts around houses, roads and fences, some gave qualitative characteristics of formation and structure (eg Seligman 1962) and empirical methods for …

  8. Beautiful but dangerous: how cornices are formed - SLF

    Mar 21, 2023 · In some parts of Svalbard (Norway), cornices are responsible for around 45% of all avalanches. "Avalanches triggered by the collapse of a cornice threaten local infrastructure and people's lives," explains Yu.

  9. Cornices - Scottish Avalanche Information Service

    Cornices occur on the leeward sides of windexposed ridgelines or sharp terrain breaks. Position of the weak layer in the snowpack. Snow drift extends the cornice outward, so the...

  10. cornice - National Snow and Ice Data Center