Karawanks West

A precarious avalanche situation will prevail.

A precarious avalanche situation will prevail.

The fresh snow and the wind slabs that are forming during the snowfall will be deposited on a weakly bonded old snowpack on west, north and east facing slopes above the tree line. Especially here avalanches can be triggered in the faceted old snow. This applies even in case of a small load. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible. The avalanche prone locations are widespread and are barely recognisable. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase with altitude. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found also in areas close to the tree line. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm indicating the danger. Caution and restraint are required.

In some regions 40 cm of snow fell in the last few days. In some regions 20 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall above approximately 1500 m. The new snow and wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack above the tree line. The old snowpack is faceted and weak. This applies especially in shady places that are protected from the wind.

Caution and restraint are required.