Tuxer Alps West

Fresh wind slabs represent the main danger. Gliding snow requires caution.

Fresh wind slabs represent the main danger. Gliding snow requires caution.

The fresh wind slabs are very prone to triggering in all aspects. Caution is to be exercised in particular above approximately 2200 m, as well as in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. Avalanches can be released easily and reach medium size. The prevalence of avalanche prone locations and likelihood of triggering will increase with altitude. Shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm indicating the danger. Remotely triggered and natural avalanches are possible in isolated cases. There is a danger of gliding avalanches and moist snow slides. This applies on steep slopes below approximately 2400 m. In the course of the day the activity of gliding avalanches will increase. Weak layers in the old snowpack can be released especially by large additional loads in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example. This applies on very steep slopes above approximately 2200 m. Avalanches can reach large size in isolated cases.

Over a wide area 15 to 40 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall above approximately 2000 m. As a consequence of new snow and a strong to storm force westerly wind, extensive wind slabs will form. These are lying on soft layers in all aspects at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions. Faceted weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack in particular above approximately 2200 m. The rain will give rise to increasing and thorough wetting of the snowpack over a wide area in particular at low and intermediate altitudes.

The avalanche danger will persist.