Border Pennine Alps

Fresh and older wind slabs represent the main danger.

Fresh and older wind slabs represent the main danger.

As a consequence of new snow and a moderate to strong wind, sometimes avalanche prone wind slabs formed in gullies and bowls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. Sometimes the avalanches are medium-sized but can be released in some cases by a single winter sport participant. This applies especially on steep north, east and southeast facing slopes. Adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls and on very steep slopes dry slab avalanches are possible, even medium-sized ones.

Over a wide area various wind slab layers are lying on the smooth surface of an old snowpack. Faceted weak layers exist in the bottom section of the snowpack at intermediate and high altitudes. Over a wide area snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind.