Venediger Group South

Fresh wind slabs require caution. A clear night will be followed in the early morning by quite favourable conditions generally.

Fresh wind slabs require caution. A clear night will be followed in the early morning by quite favourable conditions generally.

As a consequence of a moderate to strong wind from southerly directions, wind slabs will form in particular adjacent to ridgelines. This applies in particular at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions. The fresh wind slabs are mostly small but can be released easily. As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation wet loose snow avalanches are possible, but they can reach medium size in isolated cases, especially on very steep sunny slopes below approximately 3000 m. Weak layers in the old snowpack can be released in very isolated cases. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2400 m. Avalanches can reach medium size in isolated cases.

The fresh wind slabs are lying on soft layers on shady slopes. Faceted weak layers exist in the bottom section of the snowpack on west, north and east facing slopes. Outgoing longwave radiation during the night will be good over a wide area. Especially on steep sunny slopes, a partially stable melt-freeze crust formed. Sunshine and high temperatures will give rise as the day progresses to a loss of strength within the snowpack in some cases on very steep sunny slopes.

Fresh wind slabs require caution. Gradual increase in danger of moist and wet avalanches as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation.