Border Graie Alps

Fresh wind slabs above the tree line.

Fresh wind slabs above the tree line.

As a consequence of the sometimes moderate wind the wind slabs will increase in size. The wind slabs must be evaluated with care and prudence. In isolated cases the dry avalanches are large and can be released by a single winter sport participant, caution is to be exercised in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, as well as adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas above approximately 2200 m. Avalanches can penetrate deep layers and reach quite a large size. The current avalanche situation calls for careful route selection.

20 to 40 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Sunday. The moderate wind will transport the new snow. The fresh snow and the wind slabs are lying on a crust below approximately 2300 m. Faceted weak layers exist in the old snowpack in particular on shady slopes. Towards its base, the snowpack is faceted. In all aspects snow depths vary greatly at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions, depending on the infuence of the wind.