Pfitsch

Wind slabs require caution.

Wind slabs require caution.

The wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence in particular on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2600 m. Winter sport participants can release avalanches in isolated cases. Avalanches can additionally in very isolated cases be released in the weakly bonded old snow also. These avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on very steep shady slopes and at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, especially at elevated altitudes in the central and eastern parts of the main Alpine ridge.

As a consequence of new snow and a moderate to strong wind from variable directions, wind slabs formed in the last few days in all aspects. In some cases the various wind slabs have bonded still only poorly with each other and the old snowpack, in particular on shady slopes at elevated altitudes. Faceted weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack in particular on very steep shady slopes, in particular at elevated altitudes in the central and eastern parts of the main Alpine ridge.

The weather conditions will foster a substantial stabilisation of the snow drift accumulations.