Ankogel-Hochalm Group

Wind slabs require caution. Weakly bonded old snow at elevated altitudes.

Wind slabs require caution. Weakly bonded old snow at elevated altitudes.

The fresh and older wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in isolated cases especially on very steep west, north and east facing slopes. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain above approximately 2400 m. Avalanches can reach medium size in isolated cases. 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. In isolated cases avalanches can also be released in near-ground layers, in particular on very steep shady slopes at elevated altitudes. Steep, glaciated terrain must also be critically assessed. The Avalanche Warning Service currently has only a small amount of information that has been collected in the field, so that the avalanche danger should be investigated especially thoroughly in the relevant locality.

A little snow is lying. The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations. The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack on west, north and east facing slopes at elevated altitudes. Faceted weak layers exist in the bottom section of the old snowpack in shady places that are protected from the wind. The high temperatures gave rise to moistening of the snowpack at intermediate altitudes.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.