Nonsberger Alps East

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow are to be assessed with care and prudence.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow are to be assessed with care and prudence.

The fresh and older wind slabs are prone to triggering in all aspects above the tree line. They are covered with new snow and therefore difficult to recognise. Weak layers in the old snowpack can still be released in some places by individual winter sport participants. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on shady slopes above the tree line. At elevated altitudes the avalanche prone locations are to be found in all aspects. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm indicating the danger. Mostly avalanches are rather small. In the regions neighbouring those that are subject to danger level 3 (considerable) the avalanche danger is a little higher. Careful route selection is recommended.

Over a wide area 10 to 20 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, fell in the last few days. The strong wind has transported the new snow significantly. As a consequence of the northwesterly wind the wind slabs will increase in size additionally on Tuesday. The new snow and wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack above the tree line. The sometimes new snow-covered wind slabs remain for the foreseeable future prone to triggering. Faceted weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack, in particular on shady slopes in areas close to the tree line, as well as above the tree line, also on steep sunny slopes at elevated altitudes. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack indicate the unfavourable bonding of the snowpack.

Down to low altitudes snow will fall on Wednesday over a wide area. The avalanche danger will increase during the day. The snowpack remains prone to triggering, in particular at elevated altitudes.