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.

Above approximately 2000 m snow fell yesterday in the regions exposed to the foehn wind. 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. Mostly the avalanches are medium-sized and can be released even by a single winter sport participant. 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.

In particular in the regions exposed to the foehn wind 10 to 15 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, fell yesterday above approximately 2200 m. The sometimes moderate wind has transported the new snow significantly. Towards its base, the snowpack consists of faceted crystals. The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are poorly bonded with the old snowpack, especially on shady slopes. At low and intermediate altitudes thus far only a little snow is lying. 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.