Border Graie Alps

Wind slabs along the border with France. Backcountry touring calls for careful route selection.

Wind slabs along the border with France. Backcountry touring calls for careful route selection.

The wind slabs can still be released on steep northeast, southeast and southwest facing slopes above approximately 2100 m. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack indicate the unfavourable bonding of the snowpack. Caution is to be exercised in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, as well as at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. Avalanches can be released by a single winter sport participant and reach medium size. Slight increase in danger of dry and moist avalanches as a consequence of warming, in particular on rocky sunny slopes, as well as at the base of rock walls.

In particular along the border with France 20 to 30 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Sunday above approximately 1800 m. The new snow is lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on steep shady slopes above approximately 2000 m. Towards its base, the snowpack is faceted and weak. The sometimes strong wind has transported a lot of snow. Snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind.

The weather conditions will facilitate a gradual strengthening of the snow drift accumulations.