Lechtal Alps East

Wind slabs and gliding snow require caution.

Wind slabs and gliding snow require caution.

Wind slabs can be released even by a single winter sport participant in particular on very steep west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2200 m. The prevalence of avalanche prone locations and likelihood of triggering will increase with altitude. The wind slabs are clearly recognisable to the trained eye. Avalanches can in isolated cases penetrate near-ground layers of the snowpack and reach large size. This applies especially in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow, as well as at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. As a consequence of warming and solar radiation, the activity of gliding avalanches has already appreciably increased. Small and medium-sized gliding avalanches are to be expected on steep grassy slopes, especially in the regions with a lot of snow, as well as in particular below approximately 2600 m. Areas with glide cracks are to be avoided. On extremely steep sunny slopes individual mostly small moist loose snow avalanches are possible as a consequence of solar radiation.

The more recent wind slabs of the last few days are lying on soft layers in particular on west, north and east facing slopes at elevated altitudes. In some cases the wind slabs have bonded still only poorly with each other and the old snowpack. Isolated avalanche prone weak layers exist in the bottom section of the old snowpack above approximately 2200 m. The weather will be mild. The weather conditions will foster a substantial stabilisation of the snow drift accumulations. The solar radiation will give rise as the day progresses to moistening of the snowpack on sunny slopes.

The avalanche danger will decrease gradually. The snowpack remains prone to triggering in some places.