Rieserferner Mountains

Wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence.

Wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence.

The various wind slabs are in some cases still prone to triggering. They can be released by a single winter sport participant especially on steep shady slopes above approximately 2400 m. Caution is to be exercised in places that are protected from the wind, as well as in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. The wind slabs are mostly easy to recognise. Avalanches can in isolated cases be released in the old snowpack, in particular by large additional loads. This applies at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example, and on extremely steep slopes at elevated altitudes. Avalanches can reach medium size.

As a consequence of the occasionally strong northerly wind, fresh snow drift accumulations will form on Saturday. They are mostly rather small. The various wind slabs are poorly bonded with the old snowpack especially on wind-protected shady slopes. The old snowpack will be prone to triggering in some places, especially in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow at elevated altitudes.

As a consequence of solar radiation and the moderate wind, the snow drift accumulations will stabilise on Sunday.