Weisseck, Muhr Valley

Lots of new fallen snow and wind require restraint

Lots of new fallen snow and wind require restraint

The avalanche risk is considerable above the tree line and moderate below. Slab avalanches can be triggered in drift and new fallen snow in some places by even a small additional load and can also slide spontaneously in places. Avalanches reach medium size. Avalanche prone locations can be found in all aspects, adjacent to the ridgeline and distant from ridgelines, behind terrain edges, in gullies and bowls. They increase in size and frequency with altitude. Older snowdrift accumulations can be covered with snow and difficult to recognise. Cracks when walking on the snow cover, snowpack indicate the danger.

A total of 60 to 80 cm of new fallen snow has fallen in the last few days. Wind and snowfall are constantly forming fresh wind slab at altitude and the snow can also bind well on the surface due to the warming. Both soft snow, surface hoar and faceted crystals above/below the top crust can serve as a weak layer. The rest of the old snowpack is made up of layers of faceted crystals, deep rime and melt-freeze crusts, where it has little tendency to break up. The total snow depth is still well below average.

In the evening it rains and snows (about 5 mm/cm). The snowfall level is at 1500 m, the frost line at 2000 m. The precipitation will subside by midnight. On summits, winds from the west will continue to be brisk at times. On Tuesday, visibility will improve significantly during the morning. The sun will shine widely in the afternoon. The initially moderate wind from the south to west will weaken during the day. At 2000 metres around 0 degrees, at 3000 metres around -5 degrees Celsius.

The wind slab gradually settles as the weather warms up.