Dolomites of Fiemme North

Fresh wind slabs require caution.

Fresh wind slabs require caution.

As a consequence of new snow and a sometimes strong wind, mostly small wind slabs formed since Tuesday in particular at elevated altitudes. The fresh wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in isolated cases in particular on steep shady slopes. The wind slabs are to be avoided in particular in terrain where there is a danger of falling. Caution is to be exercised adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. The avalanche prone locations are rather rare but are barely recognisable because of the poor visibility.

In some localities up to 10 cm of snow has fallen since Tuesday. As a consequence of new snow and a strong wind, sometimes avalanche prone wind slabs formed. These are lying on soft layers in particular on steep shady slopes at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions. On Wednesday the wind slabs will increase in size additionally. Hardly any weak layers exist in the old snowpack. Snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. The solar radiation will give rise in the early morning to slight moistening of the snowpack.

The weather conditions facilitated a gradual stabilisation of the snow drift accumulations. As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation moist snow slides and avalanches are possible.