Ulten Valley

Fresh wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence.

Fresh wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence.

The fresh wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in some cases. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on southwest to north to southeast facing aspects above the tree line and on steep south facing slopes above approximately 2400 m. Mostly avalanches are small. In particular in shady places that are protected from the wind they can release the weakly bonded old snow as well and reach medium size in some cases. Caution is to be exercised in particular at the base of rock walls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, as well as in gullies and bowls. At elevated altitudes the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent and larger. Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised as well in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls.

As a consequence of the sometimes strong wind the wind slabs will increase in size moderately. The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on steep shady slopes. The old snowpack is faceted. In some cases the various wind slabs have bonded poorly together. The snowpack will be generally subject to considerable local variations. Only a small amount of snow is lying for the time of year in all altitude zones.

Wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence. Further decrease in avalanche danger as a consequence of warming.