Northern Lepontine Alps

Fresh and older wind slabs represent the main danger.

Fresh and older wind slabs represent the main danger.

The fresh snow as well as the sometimes large wind slabs can be released easily, even by a single winter sport participant, in particular on north to east to southwest facing aspects above approximately 2400 m. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas and in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. On wind-loaded slopes and on very steep sunny slopes natural avalanches are possible, even large ones in isolated cases.

Over a wide area new snow and wind slabs are lying on the smooth surface of an old snowpack. Over a wide area snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. Faceted weak layers exist in the bottom section of the snowpack at intermediate and high altitudes.