Weisseck, Muhr Valley

Fresh wind slab snow on a weak old snowpack.

Fresh wind slab snow on a weak old snowpack.

The avalanche risk is SIGNIFICANT above 2300 metres, and MASSIVE below that. New fallen snow and wind form a fresh slab. Small snow slabs can be triggered in some places by individual winter sports enthusiasts and reach medium size when tearing through the weak persistent weak layer. The weak old snowpack can also still be disturbed. Avalanche prone locations increase rapidly from the tree line upwards. They are more frequent from west to north to east, in high alpine areas also in the southern sector and generally next to blown-off areas. Drift snow areas should be avoided. Whumpfing collapsing sounds when stepping on the snowpack can indicate danger.

10 cm to 20 cm of snow falls on a locally very varied snow surface under the influence of wind. There are areas with little snow next to considerable snowdrift accumulations. In places, these have been transformed and are soft, in places hard as a board. At the transition to the old snowpack, there are faceted crystals on and under the crust, which can serve as a reactive weak layer. Fractures in the persistent weak layer usually occur here. Deeper in the old snowpack there is a sequence of faceted crystals, crusts and a lot of deep rime. The total snow depth is well below average.

On Sunday, the weather will be generally cloudy and visibility may be limited at times, especially at higher altitudes. Short periods of clearing will remain the exception. It will snow lightly from time to time in the morning and the snowfall will intensify in the afternoon, with a total of 10 to 20 cm of new fallen snow. Moderate to brisk southerly winds. At 2000 m around -3 degrees, at 3000 m around -9 degrees.

The avalanche danger is slowly decreasing.