sluff
n.— «Loose-snow avalanches: Also known as “point releases,” typically start from a single point and fan outward as they descend. Also known as sluffs, these types of avalanches are common but generally less dangerous, partially because most sluffs fracture beneath a trigger point (i.e., a skier’s tracks). However, a large sluff can carry a skier down a slope or over a cliff and is capable of burying a vehicle or a house.» —“Blasting powder” by Brian Metzler Rocky Mountain News (Denver, Colorado) Feb. 25, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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