Border Graie Alps

Down to low altitudes snow has fallen since Saturday. The fresh and older wind slabs must be evaluated with care and prudence in all aspects and generally in areas close to the tree line.

Down to low altitudes snow has fallen since Saturday. The fresh and older wind slabs must be evaluated with care and prudence in all aspects and generally in areas close to the tree line.

In particular on steep slopes and on wind-loaded slopes slab avalanches are possible as a consequence of new snow and wind. The sometimes avalanche-prone wind slabs are covered with new snow and therefore difficult to recognise. These can mostly be released by a single winter sport participant. In particular on very steep shady slopes the avalanches can be released in deep layers of the snowpack and reach large size.

15 to 30 cm of snow fell in the last few days above approximately 1200 m. Precarious weak layers exist in the snowpack on steep shady slopes. The wind slabs will be covered with new snow and therefore difficult to recognise. Over a wide area new snow is lying on surface hoar. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack and natural avalanches serve as an alarm indicating the danger.