North and center of Aran

The wind slabs must be evaluated with care and prudence in all aspects. Dry and moist snow slides.

The wind slabs must be evaluated with care and prudence in all aspects. Dry and moist snow slides.

The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs can be released very easily in particular on northwest to north to southeast facing aspects at intermediate and high altitudes. In many cases the avalanches are small. These can in isolated cases be triggered in deep layers and reach medium size. Shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack and fresh avalanches serve as an alarm indicating the danger. Sunny slopes and low altitudes: As the day progresses small and, in isolated cases, medium-sized moist snow slides and avalanches are to be expected. On steep grassy slopes more small and medium-sized gliding avalanches are possible. Experience in the assessment of avalanche danger is required.

In some regions up to 5 cm of snow, and up to 10 cm in some localities, fell yesterday above approximately 1800 m. The northerly wind has transported the new snow. On Friday it will be sunny. On high shady slopes a buried Saharan dust crust is overlain by weakly cohesive layers with surface hoar. The extensive wind slabs are lying on unfavourable layers in particular on shady slopes. In particular low altitudes as well as steep sunny slopes: The surface of the snowpack will freeze to form a strong crust and will already soften in the late morning. At intermediate altitudes there are 150 to 200 cm of snow, and even more in some localities.

Saturday: As the day progresses as a consequence of new snow and strong wind there will be a rapid increase in the danger of dry avalanches.