Silvretta East

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.

The fresh and older wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in some cases in particular on west to north to northeast facing aspects. This also applies in isolated cases on steep sunny slopes at elevated altitudes. Avalanches can release deeper layers of the snowpack and reach medium size. Avalanches can be released in the weakly bonded old snow, even by small loads in isolated cases. These avalanche prone locations are to be found especially on steep northwest, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2200 m, caution is to be exercised in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example.

The fresh and older wind slabs are lying on soft layers in particular on steep west, north and northeast facing slopes, especially in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. Faceted weak layers exist deep in the old snowpack especially on shady slopes. Snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow are to be assessed with care and prudence. The weather conditions will facilitate a gradual stabilisation of the snow drift accumulations.