Border Graie Alps

Wind slabs and wet snow represent the main danger, especially along the border with France. In the evening as a consequence of the rain there will be an increase in the avalanche danger.

Wind slabs and wet snow represent the main danger, especially along the border with France. In the evening as a consequence of the rain there will be an increase in the avalanche danger.

In the last few days sometimes avalanche prone wind slabs formed on north, east and southeast facing slopes. These are to be avoided above approximately 2300 m. Even single backcountry tourers can release avalanches in some places, including medium-sized ones. The avalanche prone locations are to be found on steep slopes and adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. Wet avalanches during the day are possible. They can also be triggered in the old snowpack and reach quite a large size. The current avalanche situation calls for defensive route selection.

As a consequence of sharply rising temperatures and rain up to high altitudes the snowpack can not consolidate. The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are poorly bonded with the old snowpack in particular on northwest to east to south facing aspects. Snow depths vary greatly at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions, depending on the infuence of the wind. Below the tree line only a little snow is lying.

As a consequence of warming, the likelihood of moist snow slides and avalanches being released will increase further. Up to intermediate altitudes rain will fall.