Saualpe North

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.

The small quantity of fresh snow and in particular the wind slabs formed during the snowfall are lying on top of 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 single winter sport participant. In isolated cases avalanches are medium-sized. Caution is to be exercised in particular in gullies and bowls. The avalanche prone locations are sometimes covered with new snow. As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation loose snow avalanches are possible.

5 to 15 cm of snow has fallen since Saturday above approximately 1500 m. In some regions 10 cm of snow will fall. As a consequence of a gusty wind from southerly directions, further wind slabs will form. These 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. The old snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations.

The new snow and wind slabs remain prone to triggering. In some regions increase in avalanche danger as a consequence of new snow and wind.