Rieserferner Mountains

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow are to be assessed with care and prudence. Caution is to be exercised also in areas close to the tree line.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow are to be assessed with care and prudence. Caution is to be exercised also in areas close to the tree line.

Avalanches can be released in the weakly bonded old snow by small loads, especially on steep shady slopes. The avalanche prone locations are to be found also in areas close to the tree line and above the tree line. Caution is to be exercised at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. The wind slabs of the last few days are in some cases still prone to triggering. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in steep terrain at elevated altitudes and adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas. The danger of gliding avalanches and moist snow slides will increase a little during the day, in particular on sunny slopes. Meticulous route selection is recommended.

Towards its base, the snowpack consists of faceted crystals, especially on shady slopes. Whumpfing sounds and field observations indicate poor snowpack stability. The wind slabs of the last few days are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on steep shady slopes. In some cases the various wind slabs have bonded still only poorly with each other and the old snowpack. As a consequence of mild temperatures and solar radiation the snow drift accumulations stabilised, in particular on sunny slopes. Sunshine and high temperatures will give rise as the day progresses to slight moistening of the snowpack.

The old snowpack remains prone to triggering in particular on shady slopes. As a consequence of falling temperatures and solar radiation the snow drift accumulations will stabilise.