Kreuzeck Group

Afternoon: Increase in avalanche danger. Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.

Afternoon: Increase in avalanche danger. Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.

The fresh snow and the wind slabs that are forming during the snowfall will be deposited on a weakly bonded old snowpack on west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2000 m. Especially here avalanches can be triggered in the faceted old snow. This applies even in case of a small load. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible in isolated cases. The avalanche prone locations are covered with new snow and are barely recognisable. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm indicating the danger.

Up to 20 cm of snow has fallen since Saturday. In some regions 15 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall. As a consequence of a moderate wind from southerly directions, further wind slabs will form. These are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on shady slopes above approximately 2000 m. The old snowpack is faceted and weak. This applies especially in shady places that are protected from the wind. The old snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations.

The current avalanche situation calls for caution and restraint. The new snow and wind slabs remain prone to triggering.