Lechtal Alps East

Released avalanches and stability tests confirm a sometimes unfavourable avalanche situation.

Released avalanches and stability tests confirm a sometimes unfavourable avalanche situation.

The snow sport conditions outside marked and open pistes remain to some extent unfavourable. Single winter sport participants can release avalanches as before. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in west to north to east facing aspects above approximately 2300 m and on steep sunny slopes above approximately 2800 m. Avalanches can penetrate down to the ground and reach dangerously large size especially in the regions with a lot of snow. Caution is to be exercised in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example. The avalanche prone locations are difficult to recognise. Extensive experience in the assessment of avalanche danger is required. As a consequence of a strong wind from westerly directions, mostly small wind slabs will form in particular adjacent to ridgelines as well as at elevated altitudes. As a consequence of warming mostly small gliding avalanches and moist snow slides are possible below approximately 2400 m. This applies in particular on steep grassy slopes.

The wind will be strong in some cases. Relatively hard layers of snow are lying on a weakly bonded old snowpack. Towards its base, the snowpack is faceted and weak. The old snowpack will be moist at low and intermediate altitudes. The upper section of the snowpack is hard and its surface has a crust that is not capable of bearing a load.

Weakly bonded old snow is to be evaluated with care and prudence.