Silvretta East

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.

As a consequence of new snow and a sometimes strong wind, sometimes avalanche prone wind slabs formed in the last few days in particular on northwest, east and southeast facing slopes. This applies in gullies and bowls, as well as at the base of rock walls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain above approximately 2000 m. The wind slabs can be released easily in some places. The prevalence of avalanche prone locations and likelihood of triggering will increase with altitude. Avalanches can reach medium size. Additionally in isolated cases avalanches can be triggered in near-ground layers and reach large size in isolated cases. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on very steep west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2000 m. Caution is to be exercised in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example.

Less snow than expected fell during the night. As a consequence of a sometimes strong wind from northwesterly directions, sometimes avalanche prone wind slabs formed since Sunday. Fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are lying on soft layers. Avalanche prone weak layers exist in the bottom section of the snowpack on west, north and east facing slopes. This applies above approximately 2000 m.

The weather conditions will facilitate a slow stabilisation of the snow drift accumulations. Weakly bonded old snow requires caution.