Lasörling Group

Sharp increase in avalanche danger as a consequence of new snow and strong wind. The conditions are critical for backcountry touring and other off-piste activities outside marked and open pistes.

Sharp increase in avalanche danger as a consequence of new snow and strong wind. The conditions are critical for backcountry touring and other off-piste activities outside marked and open pistes.

The danger exists in particular in alpine snow sports terrain. The new snow and wind slabs can be released easily, even by a single winter sport participant, in all aspects above the tree line. The avalanche prone locations are prevalent and are barely recognisable because of the poor visibility. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found also in areas close to the tree line. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase with altitude. In some cases avalanches are large. As a consequence of the snowfall natural avalanches are to be expected as the day progresses. Additionally avalanches can also penetrate deep layers. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found in steep terrain above the tree line.

Over a wide area 30 to 50 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall on Thursday. The fresh snow as well as the wind slabs that are being formed by the storm force northwesterly wind will be deposited on soft layers in all aspects above the tree line. In some places new snow and wind slabs are lying on surface hoar, in particular on the Main Alpine Ridge and to the north. The snowpack will become increasingly prone to triggering. Faceted weak layers exist in the snowpack, especially on steep slopes above the tree line. In shady places that are protected from the wind the snowpack is weaker. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack indicate the existence of a weak snowack.

Great caution and restraint are required. The new snow and wind slabs remain for the foreseeable future prone to triggering. As a consequence of the strong to storm force northwesterly wind, the snow drift accumulations will increase in size on Friday. The avalanche prone locations are sometimes covered with new snow and are barely recognisable.