Lechtal Alps East

New snow represents the main danger. Gliding snow requires caution.

New snow represents the main danger. Gliding snow requires caution.

Large quantities of fresh snow and the wind-drifted snow of the last few days remain prone to triggering. The large quantity of fresh snow and the sometimes large wind slabs remain prone to triggering. Single winter sport participants can release avalanches easily. In some places these can penetrate even deep layers and reach large size. Such avalanche prone locations are sometimes covered with new snow and are therefore barely recognisable. Shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm indicating the danger. A substantial danger of gliding avalanches exists. This applies on steep grassy slopes below approximately 2400 m. In addition at low and intermediate altitudes, wet loose snow slides are possible. Weak layers in the old snowpack can be released especially by large additional loads in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example. This applies on very steep slopes above approximately 2200 m. Avalanches can reach large size.

Up to 60 cm of snow has fallen since Saturday above approximately 2000 m. As a consequence of new snow and a strong westerly wind, extensive wind slabs formed. The wind slabs are lying on soft layers in all aspects at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions. They are covered with new snow in some cases and therefore difficult to recognise. Faceted weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack in particular above approximately 2200 m. The rain gave rise to thorough wetting of the snowpack in particular at low and intermediate altitudes.

The avalanche danger will persist.