Lechtal Alps East

New snow represents the main danger. Weakly bonded old snow at elevated altitudes.

New snow represents the main danger. Weakly bonded old snow at elevated altitudes.

The large quantity of fresh snow of the last few days and the sometimes large wind slabs can be released easily, even by a single winter sport participant,. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in steep terrain above the tree line. Caution is to be exercised in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. The avalanche prone locations are sometimes covered with new snow and are difficult to recognise. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase with altitude. In isolated cases avalanches can also release deeper layers of the snowpack and reach large size, especially on very steep west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2400 m. On extremely steep slopes more loose snow avalanches are to be expected, even medium-sized ones, in the event of prolonged bright spells in particular. In addition in particular in the regions exposed to heavier precipitation, gliding avalanches are possible, especially on steep grassy slopes at intermediate and high altitudes. Caution and restraint are required.

5 to 15 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall until late in the night. On Sunday the wind will be strong in some cases in particular on the Main Alpine Ridge and to the south. The snowpack will be prone to triggering. In some places new snow and wind slabs are lying on soft layers. The various wind slabs have bonded poorly together, in particular at elevated altitudes. Faceted weak layers exist in the old snowpack on very steep west, north and east facing slopes, especially above approximately 2400 m on the Main Alpine Ridge. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack indicate the unfavourable bonding of the snowpack in the regions exposed to substantial precipitation.

Monday: As the snowfall eases there will be a decrease in the danger of dry avalanches within the current danger level. The weather conditions will bring about a gradual strengthening of the snowpack.