Border Graie Alps

New snow and wind slabs represent the main danger.

New snow and wind slabs represent the main danger.

The new snow and wind slabs of the last few days represent the main danger. The somewhat older wind slabs are covered with new snow and therefore difficult to recognise. Some fresh snow and very particularly the sometimes deep wind slabs can be released easily, or, in isolated cases naturally in particular on north to east to southwest facing aspects above approximately 2400 m. Mostly the avalanches are shallow but in isolated cases easily released. On steep sunny slopes and in steep rocky terrain natural avalanches are to be expected as the day progresses, but they can be large in isolated cases. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas and in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain above approximately 2400 m.

Especially in the regions that are exposed to the foehn wind 10 to 15 cm of snow, and up to 25 cm in some localities, has fallen thus far. Over a wide area new snow and wind slabs are lying on the smooth surface of an old snowpack. In particular in high Alpine regions snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. Faceted weak layers exist in the bottom section of the snowpack at intermediate and high altitudes. In all aspects less snow than usual is lying.