Samnaun Mountains

Fresh wind slabs require caution. A widespread favourable avalanche situation will prevail.

Fresh wind slabs require caution. A widespread favourable avalanche situation will prevail.

As a consequence of a sometimes strong wind from northerly directions, mostly small wind slabs will form on Monday at elevated altitudes. The fresh wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence in steep terrain. In the north the wind slabs are larger. The avalanche prone locations are to be found on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2400 m and in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. In very isolated cases avalanches can be triggered in the faceted old snow and reach medium size. Caution is to be exercised in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow. 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.

As a consequence of mild temperatures and solar radiation the snowpack settled at the weekend. Field observations and stability tests have confirmed a widespread favourable avalanche situation. On Monday the wind will be moderate to strong over a wide area. The wind will transport the loosely bonded old snow. The fresh wind slabs will be deposited on soft layers in particular on west to north to east facing aspects above approximately 2400 m. In very isolated cases weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack. This applies in particular on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2400 m. At elevated altitudes snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. On sunny slopes below approximately 2200 m only a little snow is lying.

A widespread favourable avalanche situation will prevail. Fresh wind slabs require caution.