Border Graie Alps

The fresh wind slabs can be released easily.

The fresh wind slabs can be released easily.

In particular along the border with France and along the border with Switzerland snowfall to low altitudes. The foehn wind will transport the new snow. In the course of the day the wind slabs will increase in size additionally. They are barely recognisable because of the poor visibility. The wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant. In the regions exposed to precipitation this applies in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase in particular in the regions exposed to the foehn. Avalanches can in some cases be triggered in the old snowpack and reach quite a large size. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack are a clear indication of a weakly bonded snowpack.

The northwesterly wind will transport the new snow and, in some cases, old snow as well. In the course of the day wind slabs will form in all aspects. The fresh wind slabs are barely recognisable because of the poor visibility. In addition, snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. Large-grained weak layers exist in the old snowpack on shady slopes.

On wind-loaded slopes a considerable danger of dry avalanches will prevail. This applies in particular, in the regions that are exposed to the foehn wind.