Border Pennine Alps

Wind slabs represent the main danger.

Wind slabs represent the main danger.

Wind slabs have formed especially in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. These are mostly easy to recognise but to be assessed critically. Some fresh snow and in particular the wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in some cases in particular on steep north, east and southeast facing slopes. Large-grained weak layers exist in the bottom section of the old snowpack in particular on shady slopes. Weak layers near the ground can be released in isolated cases and mostly by large additional loads in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack.

Over a wide area new snow and wind slabs are lying on the smooth surface of an old snowpack. In particular in high Alpine regions snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. Faceted weak layers exist in the bottom section of the snowpack at intermediate and high altitudes. In all aspects less snow than usual is lying.