Border Pennine Alps

The fresh snow and the often large wind slabs represent the main danger. It is inadvisable to engage in ski touring, freeriding and snowshoe hiking.

The fresh snow and the often large wind slabs represent the main danger. It is inadvisable to engage in ski touring, freeriding and snowshoe hiking.

Over a wide area 15 to 30 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since yesterday above approximately 1800 m. The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in all aspects at intermediate and high altitudes. They are to be found in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, this also applies at a distance from ridgelines. Remotely triggered and natural avalanches are possible. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack and natural avalanches serve as an alarm sign. The avalanche prone locations are sometimes covered with new snow and are barely recognisable because of the poor visibility. As the snowfall becomes more intense numerous avalanches are possible, but they can be large. From high-altitude starting zones the dry avalanches can reach a long way and in isolated cases endanger transportation routes situated at relatively high altitudes. With the onset of the intense snowfall, the natural avalanche activity will already appreciably increase.

Over a wide area 30 to 40 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall above approximately 1800 m. The new snow is poorly bonded with the old snowpack in many places in particular on sunny slopes. Towards its base, the snowpack is unstable; its surface consists of loosely bonded snow. The snowpack will become gradually prone to triggering.

Sunday: A lot of snow will fall. Even emptied starting zones will be replenished as a consequence of the snowfall.