Border Graie Alps

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger. Along the border with France the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent and larger.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger. Along the border with France the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent and larger.

As a consequence of a strong wind from northwesterly directions, sometimes easily released wind slabs will form. They can be released even by a single winter sport participant in particular on north to northeast to east facing aspects above approximately 2500 m, especially at their margins. The avalanche prone locations for dry avalanches are to be found in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain and at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. These are to be avoided in particular in very steep terrain. As a consequence of warming during the day small and medium-sized dry and wet avalanches are possible below approximately 3000 m. This applies in particular in case of releases originating from very steep, sunny starting zones that have retained the snow thus far.

Up to 5 cm of snow has fallen. The strong wind has transported the fresh and old snow. In particular at elevated altitudes snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. Weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack on steep shady slopes. Sunshine and high temperatures will give rise as the day progresses to increasing moistening of the snowpack below approximately 2300 m.