Glossary

Reverse loading occurs when winds blow counter to the prevailing wind direction, transporting snow to normally wind-scoured slopes. Reverse loading creates irregular and often complicated patterns of wind effect in exposed areas.

For example, in an area where winds normally blow from west to east, the snow would be blown from west-facing (windward) slopes onto east-facing (leeward) slopes. If a system brought winds from the east, the situation would be reversed, and snow would be deposited on slopes that are normally wind-scoured.