Graie Alps

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.

In particular on steep slopes and adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas medium-sized slab avalanches are possible as a consequence of the moderate wind. The avalanche-prone wind slabs can be released, especially by large additional loads,. In particular on very steep shady slopes the avalanches can be released in deep layers of the snowpack and reach large size in isolated cases.

The moderate wind has transported the new snow. The fresh wind slabs are lying on unfavourable layers. The snowpack is soft; its surface consists of loosely bonded snow. This applies in shady places that are protected from the wind also at low and intermediate altitudes. Faceted weak layers exist in the snowpack on steep shady slopes.