Border Graie Alps

New snow and wind slabs require caution. Natural moist avalanches are possible from the morning.

New snow and wind slabs require caution. Natural moist avalanches are possible from the morning.

The wind was moderate to strong adjacent to ridgelines especially in the regions that are exposed to the foehn wind. In gullies and bowls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain as well as above the tree line large wind slabs formed. The large quantity of fresh snow as well as the wind slabs can be released naturally in particular on east to south to west facing aspects. In particular in the regions with a lot of snow and on wind-loaded slopes more large avalanches are possible, in particular in case of releases originating from starting zones that still retain some snow. The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs can be released even by a single winter sport participant and generally above the tree line. As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation medium-sized to large moist and wet avalanches are possible below approximately 2300 m. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for extensive experience and restraint.

Over a wide area 70 to 90 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Saturday. In all altitude zones a very large amount of snow is lying. As a consequence of snowfall and the wind, fresh snow drift accumulations formed during the last three days. In isolated cases new snow and wind slabs are lying on a hard crust. The new snow of the last few days remains for the foreseeable future prone to triggering and generally at intermediate and high altitudes. In the last few days large and very large avalanches were observed. The high temperatures in the late morning will give rise to increasing and thorough wetting of the snowpack in particular at low and intermediate altitudes.