Border Graie Alps

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow are to be assessed with care and prudence.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow are to be assessed with care and prudence.

The wind slabs of the weekend can be released by a single winter sport participant in some cases in particular on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2300 m. Caution is to be exercised in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example. Avalanches can also penetrate deep layers and reach large size in isolated cases. Maintaining distances between individuals and one-at-a-time descents are recommended. In all altitude zones hardly any more moist and wet avalanches are to be expected as the temperature drops.

In the last few days clearly visible wind slabs formed above the tree line. Faceted weak layers exist deeper in the old snowpack in particular on shady slopes. Outgoing longwave radiation during the night will be good. As a consequence of falling temperatures the snowpack will consolidate.