Sadnig Group

The somewhat older wind slabs are in individual cases still prone to triggering.

The somewhat older wind slabs are in individual cases still prone to triggering.

The wind slabs of last week can be released in isolated cases on very steep west, north and east facing slopes. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain above approximately 2400 m. The wind slabs are clearly recognisable to the trained eye. Avalanches can reach medium size in isolated cases. Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised as well in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls. The Avalanche Warning Service currently has only a small amount of information that has been collected in the field, so that the avalanche danger should be investigated especially thoroughly in the relevant locality.

The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations. From a snow sport perspective, in most cases insufficient snow is lying. The somewhat older wind slabs are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack on wind-protected west, north and east facing slopes. They are bonding poorly with the old snowpack especially on shady slopes at elevated altitudes. The high temperatures gave rise to moistening of the snowpack at intermediate altitudes.

Wind slabs must be evaluated with care and prudence in particular on very steep shady slopes at elevated altitudes.