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 storm force wind, easily released wind slabs will form on Thursday in all aspects. These are to be bypassed as far as possible. 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. Avalanches can reach medium size in isolated cases. In the south and in the southeast the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent and larger. 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. 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.

Over a wide area 15 to 30 cm of snow has fallen. The storm force wind will transport the fresh and old snow significantly. The fresh wind slabs are bonding poorly with the old snowpack in particular on shady slopes and generally at elevated altitudes. In some cases the various wind slabs have bonded still only poorly together. The old snowpack consists of faceted crystals, 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. As a consequence of mild temperatures and solar radiation the snow drift accumulations will stabilise during the next few days.