Venediger Group South

Fresh wind slabs represent the main danger. Weak layers in the lower part of the snowpack necessitate caution.

Fresh wind slabs represent the main danger. Weak layers in the lower part of the snowpack necessitate caution.

Fresh wind slabs can be released even by a single winter sport participant in all aspects above the tree line. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. At elevated altitudes the avalanche prone locations will become more prevalent. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack can indicate the danger. As a consequence of the storm force to violent northerly wind individual natural avalanches are possible. Avalanches are medium-sized. They can in isolated cases penetrate deep layers and reach dangerously large size. Caution is to be exercised in particular on very steep northwest, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2200 m. On very steep grassy slopes individual gliding avalanches are possible, but they will be mostly small.

As a consequence of snowfall and the storm force wind, fresh snow drift accumulations formed during the last few days. In some regions 5 to 15 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall until the evening. As a consequence of the stormy weather the wind slabs will increase in size once again on Tuesday. The various wind slabs have bonded poorly together. The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on northwest to north to southeast facing aspects. The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations.

Fresh wind slabs represent the main danger. Weak layers in the old snowpack necessitate caution.