Border Graie Alps

The new snow and wind slabs represent the main danger.

The new snow and wind slabs represent the main danger.

The wind slabs have formed in particular above approximately 2000 m. Dry avalanches can over a wide area be released by a single winter sport participant and reach large size in isolated cases. This applies especially on very steep slopes adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. The current avalanche situation calls for careful route selection. As a consequence of warming during the day and the solar radiation, the likelihood of moist avalanches being released will increase a little in particular on rocky slopes at low and intermediate altitudes.

Over a wide area 40 to 80 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, fell in the last six days. The fresh snow of the last few days as well as the wind slabs formed during the snowfall are poorly bonded with the old snowpack. Rutschblock tests and fresh avalanches confirm this situation.

The weather conditions will foster a slow strengthening of the snowpack in particular at low and intermediate altitudes.