Border Pennine Alps

As a consequence of the strong northerly wind the prevalence of the avalanche prone locations will increase during the night.

As a consequence of the strong northerly wind the prevalence of the avalanche prone locations will increase during the night.

Until Saturday the wind will be strong in the vicinity of peaks. As a consequence of a gathering strong wind, further wind slabs will form. The wind slabs will form in particular above the tree line. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on wind-loaded slopes of all aspects above approximately 2300 m and at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. The wind slabs can be released easily by a single winter sport participant. At elevated altitudes more medium-sized and, in isolated cases, large dry avalanches are possible as a consequence of new snow and wind.

40 to 60 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, fell in the last five days above approximately 2300 m. The sleet gave rise to rapid settling of the snowpack below approximately 2200 m. As a consequence of falling temperatures a crust formed on the surface. Fresh wind slabs are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack in particular on steep shady slopes above approximately 2400 m. Snow depths vary greatly at intermediate and high altitudes, depending on the infuence of the wind.