Border Graie Alps

New snow and wind slabs at intermediate and high altitudes.

New snow and wind slabs at intermediate and high altitudes.

As a consequence of new snow and a light to moderate wind, sometimes easily released wind slabs formed adjacent to ridgelines as well as at intermediate and high altitudes. The wind slabs are mostly small but can in some cases be released easily. As a consequence of warming during the day, the likelihood of dry and moist avalanches being released will increase gradually also on steep shady slopes above approximately 2200 m. As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation moist small and medium sized avalanches are to be expected as the day progresses.

In particular at higher altitudes snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. Towards its base, the snowpack is faceted and its surface consists of loosely bonded snow lying on a crust that is strong in many cases, especially on steep shady slopes. On steep sunny slopes below approximately 2800 m only a little snow is lying. More recent wind slabs have formed especially adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls in all aspects and generally in the high Alpine regions.