Upper Passeier Valley

Weakly bonded old snow above approximately 2000 m. Fresh wind slabs require caution.

Weakly bonded old snow above approximately 2000 m. Fresh wind slabs require caution.

Single winter sport participants can release avalanches. These can penetrate even deep layers and reach medium size. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in all aspects above approximately 2000 m. These places are difficult to recognise. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack can indicate the danger. Caution is to be exercised at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. As a consequence of the sometimes storm force wind the wind slabs will increase in size once again. These are mostly small but in some cases prone to triggering. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls and on steep shady slopes. Careful route selection is recommended.

Until the early morning the wind will be strong in some cases in particular in the regions exposed to the foehn wind. As a consequence of snowfall and the strong westerly wind, fresh snow drift accumulations will form in the course of the day. The strong wind will transport the new snow and, in some cases, old snow as well. The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations. Faceted weak layers exist in the bottom section of the snowpack at elevated altitudes. Faceted weak layers exist in the top section of the snowpack. This applies especially between approximately 2000 and 2400 m. Fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are lying on soft layers in particular on shady slopes at elevated altitudes.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution. The avalanche danger will persist.