Silvretta East

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.

In the course of the day clearly visible wind slabs will form in particular on northwest, east and southeast facing slopes. This applies in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain above the tree line. The fresh wind slabs can be released very easily. Avalanches can reach medium size in isolated cases. The prevalence of avalanche prone locations and likelihood of triggering will increase with altitude. Avalanches can be released in near-ground layers and reach large size in isolated cases. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on very steep west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2000 m. Caution is to be exercised in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example. In addition small and, in isolated cases, medium-sized moist loose snow avalanches are possible, in the event of solar radiation in particular on extremely steep slopes.

20 to 30 cm of snow has fallen since Saturday. As a consequence of a strengthening westerly wind, wind slabs will form on Monday in gullies and bowls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. The fresh wind slabs will be deposited on soft layers. Avalanche prone weak layers exist in the bottom section of the snowpack on west, north and east facing slopes. This applies above approximately 2000 m. Below approximately 2000 m and steep sunny slopes: The old snowpack will be moist.

The weather conditions will facilitate a slow stabilisation of the snow drift accumulations. Weakly bonded old snow requires caution.