Lasörling Group

High avalanche danger will prevail. The conditions are critical for backcountry touring and other off-piste activities outside marked and open pistes.

High avalanche danger will prevail. The conditions are critical for backcountry touring and other off-piste activities outside marked and open pistes.

Remotely triggered and natural avalanches are possible. The new snow and wind slabs can be released easily, even by a single winter sport participant, in all aspects. They are covered with new snow and are barely recognisable, even to the trained eye. At a distance from ridgelines the wind slabs are larger. Large avalanches are possible here. Additionally avalanches can also penetrate deep layers. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found in steep terrain above the tree line. In steep rocky terrain small and medium-sized loose snow avalanches are to be expected.

The snowpack remains prone to triggering over a wide area. Over a wide area 30 to 50 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, fell on Thursday. The large quantity of fresh snow and the sometimes large wind slabs formed during the snowfall are lying on soft layers in all aspects. Faceted weak layers exist in the snowpack, especially on steep slopes above the tree line. In shady places that are protected from the wind the snowpack is weaker. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack indicate the existence of a weak snowack.

The new snow and wind slabs remain for the foreseeable future prone to triggering. A lot of snow will fall on Saturday over a wide area. The sometimes storm force wind will transport the new snow significantly. The avalanche danger will increase but remain within the current danger level. Great caution and restraint are required.