Border Pennine Alps

Old wind slabs at high altitude. As a consequence of warming and solar radiation a moderate danger of dry and moist avalanches will persist.

Old wind slabs at high altitude. As a consequence of warming and solar radiation a moderate danger of dry and moist avalanches will persist.

The old wind slabs can be released, especially by large additional loads, in particular on north, east and southeast facing slopes and generally at high altitude. This applies especially at transitions into gullies and bowls, especially along the border with Switzerland. Avalanches can in very isolated cases be triggered in the old snowpack and reach quite a large size, in particular on shady slopes at elevated altitudes. In the afternoon as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation there will be only a slight increase in the danger of dry and moist avalanches.

In some cases the wind slabs have bonded still only poorly with the old snowpack. Large-grained weak layers exist in the bottom section of the snowpack on shady slopes, especially on steep slopes above approximately 2500 m. Adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas as well as in high Alpine regions snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. Sunshine and high temperatures will give rise in the afternoon to increasing moistening of the snowpack in some cases in particular on sunny slopes.