Border Graie Alps

The fresh snow and in particular the wind slabs to be found at intermediate and high altitudes must be evaluated with care and prudence.

The fresh snow and in particular the wind slabs to be found at intermediate and high altitudes must be evaluated with care and prudence.

Wind slabs represent the main danger. In particular on steep slopes and on wind-loaded slopes slab avalanches are possible as a consequence of new snow and wind. Caution is to be exercised in particular on wind-loaded slopes, and on steep slopes above the tree line. The sometimes large wind slabs are to be avoided as far as possible. These can in some places be released, even by a single winter sport participant, in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls, and at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. The avalanches can be released in the new snow and wind slab layers and reach large size in isolated cases.

30 to 50 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Friday above approximately 2000 m. Above approximately 1900 m, in places that are protected from the wind: Towards its surface, the snowpack is soft; its surface consists of loosely bonded snow. The new snow is lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on shady slopes. At elevated altitudes snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. In gullies and bowls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain as well as in areas close to the tree line large wind slabs formed.