Samnaun Mountains

Significant increase in avalanche danger as the snowfall becomes more intense.

Significant increase in avalanche danger as the snowfall becomes more intense.

The new snow and wind slabs can be released easily, even by a single winter sport participant, in all aspects above the tree line. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. The avalanche prone locations are quite prevalent and are barely recognisable because of the poor visibility. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found also in areas close to the tree line. The prevalence of avalanche prone locations and likelihood of triggering will increase with altitude. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible. Additionally avalanches can also penetrate deep layers. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found in steep terrain above the tree line.

Over a wide area 10 to 30 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall on Thursday. The fresh snow as well as the wind slabs that are being formed by the storm force northwesterly wind will be deposited on soft layers in all aspects above the tree line. In some places new snow and wind slabs are lying on surface hoar, in particular on the Main Alpine Ridge and to the north. The snowpack will become increasingly prone to triggering. In shady places that are protected from the wind the snowpack is weaker. Faceted weak layers exist in the snowpack, especially on steep slopes above the tree line. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack indicate the existence of a weak snowack.

Restraint is recommended. The new snow and wind slabs remain for the foreseeable future prone to triggering. As a consequence of the strong to storm force northwesterly wind, the snow drift accumulations will increase in size on Friday. The avalanche prone locations are sometimes covered with new snow and are barely recognisable.