Tuxer Alps West

Fresh wind slabs require caution. Weakly bonded old snow is to be evaluated with care and prudence.

Fresh wind slabs require caution. Weakly bonded old snow is to be evaluated with care and prudence.

As a consequence of new snow and a sometimes strong southerly wind, sometimes avalanche prone wind slabs will form in particular adjacent to ridgelines on north facing slopes. This applies especially above the tree line. Single winter sport participants can release avalanches, including medium-sized ones. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase with altitude. Avalanches can in isolated cases be triggered in the old snowpack and reach large size in isolated cases in particular on very steep west, north and east facing slopes. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found above approximately 2400 m. As a consequence of warming during the day individual loose snow slides are possible as the day progresses, but they will be mostly small. On steep grassy slopes medium-sized gliding avalanches are possible, especially on sunny slopes below approximately 2600 m.

In some regions 5 to 15 cm of snow will fall on Tuesday. The southerly wind will transport the new snow. Fresh wind slabs are lying on soft layers especially on shady slopes. In isolated cases new snow and wind slabs are lying on a weakly bonded old snowpack, in particular on steep west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2400 m.

The conditions will facilitate a gradual stabilisation of the snow drift accumulations. The high humditiy will give rise to increasing moistening of the snowpack also at elevated altitudes. Gliding avalanches and moist snow slides are to be expected.