Pollein and Saint-Marcel

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

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

The fresh and older wind slabs are lying on weak layers especially on east to north to northwest facing aspects above approximately 2400 m. Skiers can release avalanches in isolated cases, with a large load in most cases, in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain on very steep slopes. Mostly the avalanches are only small. In addition as the day progresses on south, southeast and southwest facing slopes, further individual mostly small moist and wet avalanches are possible. This applies in particular in case of releases originating from extremely steep starting zones at intermediate and high altitudes that have retained the snow thus far.

Weak layers exist in the old snowpack on shady slopes. The snowpack is unfavourably layered and has a loosely bonded surface. Sunshine and high temperatures gave rise to increasing moistening of the snowpack on very steep sunny slopes below approximately 3000 m. These conditions will foster a gradual strengthening of the snowpack especially on very steep sunny slopes. As a consequence of sharply rising temperatures and rain up to approximately 2300 m a crust formed on the surface at the weekend. At intermediate and high altitudes snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. At low and intermediate altitudes only a little snow is now lying. The numerous rocks hidden by the recent snow are the main danger.

The weather conditions will foster a gradual change towards better conditions in all regions.