Lechtal Alps East

Outside marked and open pistes a very dangerous avalanche situation will be encountered in some regions.

Distinct weak layers in the old snowpack represent the main danger. Fresh wind slabs require caution.

High avalanche activity: Avalanches triggered by explosives and reports filed by observers show a very dangerous avalanche situation. The old snowpack will be prone to triggering over a wide area. High avalanche danger will persist in some cases. The danger exists in particular in alpine snow sports terrain. Avalanches can be released in deep layers and reach large size. This applies on west, north and east facing slopes above the tree line. Such avalanche prone locations are prevalent barely recognisable, even to the trained eye. Fresh avalanches and whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack are a clear indication of a weakly bonded snowpack. The extensive wind slabs of the last few days can be released easily by a single winter sport participant in all aspects above the tree line. Caution is to be exercised in particular on very steep north and east facing slopes in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. Snow sport participants with little experience in the assessment of avalanche danger should remain on the open pistes.

Over a wide area 40 to 60 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Sunday. The wind was strong to storm force at times. The snowpack will be prone to triggering. Large quantities of fresh snow and the wind-drifted snow are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack. The various wind slabs have bonded insufficiently with each other and the old snowpack. Avalanche prone weak layers exist in the bottom section of the snowpack on west, north and east facing slopes.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for caution and restraint.