Border Graie Alps

The fresh snow and very particularly the wind slabs can be released very easily above the tree line.

The fresh snow and very particularly the wind slabs can be released very easily above the tree line.

The old wind slabs are covered with new snow in some cases and therefore difficult to recognise. These can as before be released, even by a single winter sport participant and reach large size. This applies in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, and on wind-loaded slopes above the tree line. Wind-loaded slopes where weaknesses exist in the old snowpack are especially dangerous. Weak layers exist in the old snowpack in particular on steep northwest, north and east facing slopes. In some places various wind slab layers are lying on surface hoar. In some places avalanches can also release deeper layers of the snowpack and reach very large size.

Above approximately 1400 m snow fell yesterday. In the last few days hard wind slabs formed over a wide area. The sometimes storm force wind has transported the new snow significantly. In the vicinity of peaks snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. The new snow and wind slabs of the last few days are lying on soft layers in particular on wind-protected shady slopes. Weak layers exist in the old snowpack in particular on steep northwest, north and northeast facing slopes.