Which item is listed as a predictor of avalanches?

• A. Force majeure
• B. Wind direction
• C. Slope angle
• D. Collapsing and cracking

Answer: (D)

Collapsing and cracking are direct signs that the snowpack has a weak layer underneath a cohesive slab and is failing under stress. When a layer beneath the surface can’t support the weight above, small loads or even just the weight of the snow itself can cause the slab to crack and sometimes collapse with an audible thump. Those cracks and the feeling of collapse indicate that instability is present and an avalanche could release, especially if additional loading or external triggers come into play.

Other options don’t function as immediate predictors in the same way: force majeure is unrelated to snow conditions, wind direction influences slab formation but isn’t a current warning sign, and slope angle describes where avalanches are more likely in general but doesn’t by itself signal imminent release like actual signs of instability do.