Pollein and Saint-Marcel

The wind slabs represent the main danger.

The wind slabs represent the main danger.

As a consequence of a strong wind from northerly directions, clearly visible wind slabs formed on Tuesday, 24 December in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. These can as before be released by a single winter sport participant, caution is to be exercised in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example on very steep slopes. Above the tree line these avalanche prone locations are more prevalent. Isolated whumpfing sounds indicate a sometimes unfavourable avalanche situation on wind-loaded slopes. As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation more mostly small dry and moist avalanches are possible below approximately 3000 m, in particular on rocky sunny slopes, as well as at the base of rock walls in particular below approximately 3000 m.

In all aspects snow depths vary greatly above approximately 2200 m, depending on the infuence of the wind. Adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas above approximately 2200 m hardly any snow is lying. The wind slabs of Tuesday are lying on unfavourable layers.

As a consequence of rising temperatures and solar radiation and the light to moderate wind, the snow drift accumulations will stabilise during the next few days. The danger of moist avalanches will decrease gradually.