Ulten Valley

Fresh wind slabs represent the main danger. Weak layers in the lower part of the snowpack necessitate caution.

Fresh wind slabs represent the main danger. Weak layers in the lower part of the snowpack necessitate caution.

The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs can be released even by a single winter sport participant in all aspects above the tree line. Avalanches can in isolated cases reach medium size. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. At elevated altitudes the avalanche danger is a little higher. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack can indicate the danger. Avalanches can in some cases penetrate deep layers and reach quite a large size. Caution is to be exercised in particular on very steep northwest, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2200 m. On steep slopes numerous mostly small dry loose snow avalanches are possible as a consequence of solar radiation. On very steep grassy slopes individual gliding avalanches are possible, but they will be mostly small.

As a consequence of snowfall and the storm force wind, fresh snow drift accumulations formed during the last few days. As a consequence of the stormy weather these have increased in size additionally on Tuesday. The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on west to north to southeast facing aspects. The various wind slabs have bonded poorly with each other and the old snowpack. The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations.

Fresh wind slabs represent the main danger. Weak layers in the old snowpack necessitate caution.