Border Pennine Alps

As a consequence of new snow and a strong wind, further wind slabs formed in the last few days.

As a consequence of new snow and a strong wind, further wind slabs formed in the last few days.

The fresh snow and the sometimes large wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in some cases at elevated altitudes, caution is to be exercised on very steep shady slopes at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. In some places the avalanches can be released in the faceted old snow and reach large size. The avalanche prone locations are covered with new snow and are difficult to recognise. Backcountry touring calls for defensive route selection.

Along the border with Switzerland over a wide area 5 to 10 cm of snow, and up to 20 cm in some localities, has fallen. In all aspects snow depths vary greatly at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions, depending on the infuence of the wind. Adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas at elevated altitudes hardly any snow is lying. In some places new snow and wind slabs are lying on old snow containing large grains. At low and intermediate altitudes from a snow sport perspective, in most cases insufficient snow is lying.