Border Graie Alps

Considerable, level 3, in particular along the border with France. Weak layers in the old snowpack are treacherous.

Considerable, level 3, in particular along the border with France. Weak layers in the old snowpack are treacherous.

Weak layers in the old snowpack can be released in some places by individual winter sport participants in particular along the border with France. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack are a clear indication of a weakly bonded snowpack, caution is to be exercised on very steep shady slopes at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack above approximately 2100 m. Avalanches can penetrate deep layers and reach medium size. The fresh snow and the wind slabs must be evaluated with care and prudence. In the other regions the avalanches are less common.

Along the border with France 15 to 25 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Monday. In the last few days the wind slabs have increased in size. The fresh snow and the wind slabs are lying on a crust below approximately 2300 m. Towards its base, the snowpack is faceted and weak. In all aspects snow depths vary greatly at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions, depending on the infuence of the wind. Field observations and artificially triggered avalanches have confirmed that the stability of the snowpack varies greatly within a small area. Adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas at elevated altitudes hardly any snow is lying. At low and intermediate altitudes from a snow sport perspective, in most cases insufficient snow is lying.