Border Graie Alps

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.

The sometimes large wind slabs of the last few days must be evaluated with care and prudence. These can in some places be released, even by a single winter sport participant. This applies especially in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain in particular at intermediate and high altitudes, and on steep slopes above approximately 2200 m. Avalanches can be released in deep layers and reach quite a large size. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm sign. Some snow will fall. The avalanche prone locations are barely recognisable because of the poor visibility. Backcountry touring calls for careful route selection.

Over a wide area 20 to 30 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, fell in the last three days above approximately 1500 m. As a consequence of the strong wind the wind slabs have increased in size. Faceted weak layers exist deeper in the old snowpack in particular on shady slopes. Since Sunday on steep shady slopes medium-sized to large avalanches were released.