Bollettino valanghe

Fresh wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence. Weak layers in the old snowpack necessitate caution.

Fresh wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence. Weak layers in the old snowpack necessitate caution.

As a consequence of new snow and a strong to storm force wind, avalanche prone wind slabs will form in the course of the day in some places. The rather small wind slabs can be released even by a single winter sport participant in particular on steep shady slopes above the tree line. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in shady places that are protected from the wind and adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. At elevated altitudes the avalanche prone locations are a little more prevalent. The wind slabs in steep terrain are to be bypassed as far as possible. By late in the night as the precipitation becomes more intense there will be a gradual increase in the avalanche danger. In very isolated cases dry avalanches can also be triggered in the old snowpack, especially on very steep shady slopes at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, this applies in particular in case of a large load.

10 to 20 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall. The wind will be strong to storm force over a wide area. As a consequence of new snow and northwesterly wind, wind slabs will form in the course of the day in all aspects. The fresh wind slabs are bonding poorly with the old snowpack in particular on wind-protected shady slopes. They are mostly rather small but prone to triggering. Older wind slabs have bonded quite well with the old snowpack. In its middle, the snowpack is faceted and weak. This applies on shady slopes above approximately 2200 m.

As a consequence of new snow and strong wind there will be an additional increase in the avalanche danger.