Deferegger Alps East

Wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence.

Wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence.

As a consequence of a moderate to strong wind, easily released wind slabs will form on Wednesday in all aspects. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in steep terrain above the tree line and in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. In the regions exposed to heavier precipitation the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent and larger. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. In very isolated cases dry avalanches can also be triggered in the old snowpack, especially on very steep shady slopes at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, this applies in particular in case of a large load.

Over a wide area 10 to 20 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, fell on Tuesday. The fresh wind slabs are bonding poorly with the old snowpack in particular on shady slopes and generally at elevated altitudes. The new snow and wind slabs are lying on the quite favourable surface of an old snowpack on sunny slopes at intermediate altitudes. In its middle, the snowpack is faceted and weak, especially on shady slopes. Only a small amount of snow is lying for the time of year.

Fresh wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence. In particular on extremely steep sunny slopes small to medium-sized loose snow avalanches are to be expected as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation.