Pollein and Saint-Marcel

Backcountry touring and snowshoe hiking call for meticulous route selection.

Backcountry touring and snowshoe hiking call for meticulous route selection.

As a consequence of new snow and a sometimes moderate wind, sometimes avalanche prone wind slabs formed. The new snow and wind slabs are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack in particular on steep shady slopes. Single winter sport participants can release avalanches in some places, including medium-sized ones. At transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example and on steep shady slopes the avalanche danger is higher. Weak layers exist in the old snowpack especially in places that are protected from the wind. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm sign. The fresh snow and the wind slabs can be released naturally in all aspects above approximately 2300 m. Additionally in some places dry avalanches can also be released in near-ground layers.

10 to 15 cm of snow fell yesterday. Weak layers exist in the snowpack especially on shady slopes. Reports filed by observers and snow profiles confirm the unfavourable bonding of the snowpack on shady slopes. Snow depths vary greatly above approximately 2000 m, depending on the infuence of the wind.

The avalanche danger will persist.