Ampezzo Dolomites

The new snow and wind slabs represent the main danger.

The new snow and wind slabs represent the main danger.

Over a wide area up to 25 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, fell on Tuesday. The strong wind has transported some snow. The wind slabs have formed in particular adjacent to ridgelines and at high altitudes. These can be released easily by a single winter sport participant. Above approximately 1200 m snow will fall on Thursday over a wide area. In some localities 5 to 10 cm of snow will fall above approximately 1500 m. The sometimes storm force wind will transport the new snow. The various wind slabs can be released easily, even by a single winter sport participant, above approximately 1800 m, especially at their margins. In particular on steep shady slopes small and medium-sized dry slab avalanches are possible as a consequence of new snow and wind. In particular transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack where weaknesses exist in the old snowpack are especially precarious. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on steep shady slopes above the tree line.

The wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on steep northwest, north and east facing slopes. Shady slopes: The old snowpack consists of faceted crystals. The fresh wind slabs are lying on soft layers. The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations over a wide area.