Border Pennine Alps

As a consequence of new snow and a strong wind, further wind slabs formed in the last few days.

As a consequence of new snow and a strong wind, further wind slabs formed in the last few days.

The fresh snow and the wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant at elevated altitudes, caution is to be exercised on very steep slopes at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. In some places the avalanches can be released in the faceted old snow and reach large size. The avalanche prone locations are sometimes covered with new snow and are barely recognisable. Backcountry touring calls for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger and careful route selection.

Along the border with Switzerland over a wide area 30 to 40 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Monday. In all aspects snow depths vary greatly above approximately 2000 m, depending on the infuence of the wind. Adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas at elevated altitudes hardly any snow is lying. In some places new snow and wind slabs are lying on old snow containing large grains.