Wind increases the danger of avalanches occurring; often the greatest amount of snow falls as a result of strong winds. A strong wind often contributes to making snowflakes drift over the mountain before they fall where they can find shelter. This means the snowflakes are destroyed as they fall and form small hard balls, which do not stick together or to the existing surface. This can result in an increased instability between the existing layers of snow, and an increased risk of avalanches.

Because the newly fallen snow is compressed into balls of snow crystals, it contains less air and is very compact. This causes inner tensions to occur within the mass of snow, which can easily be released in the form of an avalanche. These layers of snow are typically hard to medium and up to several weeks can pass before they tensions in these layers disappear.