Border Graie Alps

Wind slabs require caution. Backcountry touring calls for experience and restraint.

Wind slabs require caution. Backcountry touring calls for experience and restraint.

As a consequence of a strong northwesterly wind, dangerous wind slabs formed above approximately 2200 m. The wind slabs are to be found in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas. The wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in particular on steep northeast, east and southeast facing slopes. Avalanches can in some places be released in near-ground layers, mostly by large additional loads. As the temperature drops individual avalanches are possible as the day progresses, even medium-sized ones. They can occur in particular in starting zones where previous releases have taken place.

As a consequence of the strong northwesterly wind, the snow drift accumulations have increased in size. As a consequence of highly fluctuating temperatures and solar radiation a crust formed on the surface. Weak layers exist deeper in the old snowpack. A lot of snow is lying at intermediate and high altitudes. Some snow will fall over a wide area. The fresh snow as well as the wind slabs are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack.

A lot of snow will fall over a wide area. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase in the afternoon.