Border Pennine Alps

New snow and wind slabs above the tree line. Restraint is advisable on this first sunny day after a long period of poor weather.

New snow and wind slabs above the tree line. Restraint is advisable on this first sunny day after a long period of poor weather.

The fresh snow and the sometimes deep wind slabs can be released easily, even by a single winter sport participant, at intermediate and high altitudes. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on steep shady slopes at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions and adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. On steep shady slopes the avalanches can be triggered in the faceted old snow and reach large size in isolated cases. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack are a clear indication.

Over a wide area 30 to 50 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Tuesday above approximately 2000 m. The new snow and wind slabs of the last few days are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack on northwest to north to east facing aspects above approximately 2200 m. Weak layers exist deep in the snowpack in particular on steep shady slopes.

The weather conditions will foster a slow stabilisation of the snowpack.