Ulten Valley

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

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

The fresh wind slabs of the last few days can be released even by a single winter sport participant in all aspects above the tree line. The avalanche prone locations are quite prevalent but are clearly recognisable to the trained eye. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found also in areas close to the tree line. Caution is to be exercised in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. In the regions neighbouring those that are subject to danger level 3 (considerable) the avalanche danger is higher. Additionally avalanches can also be released in the old snowpack. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found on steep, little used shady slopes above approximately 2200 m and on steep sunny slopes above approximately 2500 m.

In some regions up to 10 cm of snow has fallen since Thursday. In the south less snow fell. The small quantity of fresh snow as well as the wind slabs formed by the sometimes storm force northwesterly wind are lying on soft layers in all aspects. In some places various wind slab layers are lying on surface hoar. In shady places that are protected from the wind the snowpack is weaker. Faceted weak layers exist in the snowpack, especially on shady slopes above approximately 2200 m, as well as on sunny slopes above approximately 2500 m. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack indicate the existence of a weak snowack.

The new snow and wind slabs remain for the foreseeable future prone to triggering. In some regions increase in avalanche danger as a consequence of new snow and stormy weather, especially in the north.