Tuxer Alps West

Fresh wind slabs require caution. Weakly bonded old snow is to be evaluated with care and prudence.

Fresh wind slabs require caution. Weakly bonded old snow is to be evaluated with care and prudence.

As a consequence of new snow and a sometimes strong southerly wind, sometimes avalanche prone wind slabs formed in particular adjacent to ridgelines. This applies especially on steep shady slopes above approximately 2200 m. Single winter sport participants can release avalanches, including medium-sized ones. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase with altitude. Avalanches can in isolated cases be triggered in the old snowpack and reach large size in isolated cases in particular on very steep west, north and east facing slopes. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found above approximately 2400 m. As a consequence of warming during the day individual loose snow slides are to be expected as the day progresses, but they will be mostly small. On steep grassy slopes medium-sized gliding avalanches are possible, especially on sunny slopes below approximately 2600 m.

In some regions 5 to 15 cm of snow fell on Tuesday. The southerly wind has transported the new snow. Fresh wind slabs are lying on soft layers especially on shady slopes. In isolated cases new snow and wind slabs are lying on a weakly bonded old snowpack, in particular on steep west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2400 m.

The conditions will facilitate a gradual stabilisation of the snow drift accumulations. The weather conditions will give rise to increasing moistening of the snowpack also at elevated altitudes. Gliding avalanches and moist snow slides are to be expected.