Tuxer Alps West

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.

As a consequence of new snow and a strong northeasterly wind, avalanche prone wind slabs formed over a wide area. The fresh wind slabs can be released easily, even by a single winter sport participant,. The wind slabs are covered with new snow in some cases and therefore difficult to recognise. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in all aspects above the tree line, in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas, as well as in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. At elevated altitudes the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent. Individual natural avalanches are not ruled out. Additionally avalanches can also be triggered in deep layers. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found on steep, little used shady slopes above approximately 2200 m and on steep sunny slopes above approximately 2500 m. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger and careful route selection.

Over a wide area 20 to 30 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, fell on Saturday. Over a wide area 10 to 20 cm of snow will fall until midday. As a consequence of a strong wind from northeasterly directions, extensive wind slabs formed in the last few days. These will be deposited on soft layers. The snowpack remains quite prone to triggering. Faceted weak layers exist in the old snowpack, especially on shady slopes above approximately 2200 m, as well as on sunny slopes above approximately 2500 m. Stability tests and field observations confirm that the stability of the snowpack varies greatly within a small area.

As a consequence of low temperatures and the occasionally strong northeasterly wind, the snowpack can not consolidate. Above the tree line a considerable avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area.