Tuxer Alps West

Outside marked and open pistes a sometimes precarious avalanche situation will prevail. Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.

Outside marked and open pistes a sometimes precarious avalanche situation will prevail. Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.

Avalanches can over a wide area be released, even by a single winter sport participant. Caution is to be exercised in all aspects in areas close to the tree line, as well as above the tree line. The avalanche prone locations are barely recognisable, even to the trained eye. They are currently prevalent immediately adjacent to the pistes as well. At elevated altitudes the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent and larger. Remotely triggered and natural avalanches are possible. Gliding avalanches can also occur, especially on steep grassy slopes below approximately 2200 m. Extensive experience in the assessment of avalanche danger and great restraint are important.

Over a wide area 15 to 30 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall until Thursday in all altitude zones. The fresh snow and the many wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack. The wind was strong to storm force over a wide area. In all aspects the wind slabs will increase in size once again until Thursday. Faceted weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack, in particular on shady slopes in areas close to the tree line, as well as above the tree line, also on steep sunny slopes at elevated altitudes. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack indicate the unfavourable bonding of the snowpack.

As a consequence of low temperatures and the strong wind, the snowpack can not consolidate. The snowpack remains prone to triggering.