Rieserferner Mountains

Fresh wind slabs represent the main danger. Weakly bonded old snow requires caution.

Fresh wind slabs represent the main danger. Weakly bonded old snow requires caution.

The fresh wind slabs can be released easily, even by a single winter sport participant,. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in all aspects above approximately 2000 m. Caution is to be exercised in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. As a consequence of the solar radiation, the likelihood of slab avalanches being released will increase. At elevated altitudes the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. As a consequence of solar radiation loose snow avalanches are to be expected, in particular on very steep slopes. Weak layers in the old snowpack can be released in very isolated cases by winter sport participants, especially on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2400 m. The avalanches can release the weakly bonded old snow as well. Careful route selection is recommended.

In some regions up to 30 cm of snow has fallen, in particular in the northeast. As a consequence of snowfall and the strong to storm force northwesterly wind, fresh snow drift accumulations formed during the last few days. In some cases the various wind slabs have bonded poorly together. As a consequence of the strong wind the wind slabs will increase in size additionally on Tuesday. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack indicate poor snowpack stability. Faceted weak layers exist in the old snowpack, especially on shady slopes above approximately 2400 m.

Over a wide area strong northwesterly wind. The weather conditions will bring about a very slow stabilisation of the snow drift accumulations.