Border Pennine Alps

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.

On Sunday the wind was moderate to strong. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in steep terrain at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions and adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls, where The fresh and older wind slabs are lying on weak layers. In some cases the avalanches are medium-sized and can mostly be released by large loads. This applies in particular along the border with Switzerland. As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation small and medium-sized moist and wet snow slides are possible, in particular in case of releases originating from steep sunny starting zones that have retained the snow thus far. Below approximately 2200 m from a snow sport perspective, insufficient snow is lying. Watch out for the numerous rocks hidden by the recent snow.

The sometimes moderate wind has transported some snow. Towards its base, the snowpack consists of faceted crystals. The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack, especially on shady slopes. At low and intermediate altitudes thus far only a little snow is lying. As a consequence of highly fluctuating temperatures a crust formed on the surface during the last few days. Sunshine and high temperatures will give rise as the day progresses to moistening of the snowpack in particular on sunny slopes at low and intermediate altitudes.