Upper Passeier Valley

Fresh and older wind slabs represent the main danger. Weakly bonded old snow is to be evaluated with care and prudence.

Fresh and older wind slabs represent the main danger. Weakly bonded old snow is to be evaluated with care and prudence.

As a consequence of the occasionally strong northwesterly wind, the snow drift accumulations will increase in size on Wednesday. In all aspects avalanche prone wind slabs will form. These can be released even by a single winter sport participant above the tree line. Slopes adjacent to ridgelines are especially unfavourable. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found also in areas close to the tree line. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. The prevalence of avalanche prone locations and likelihood of triggering will increase with altitude. Additionally avalanches can also be released in deep layers. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found on steep, little used shady slopes above approximately 2200 m and on steep sunny slopes above approximately 2500 m.

The strong wind will transport the snow. The various wind slabs are lying on soft layers in all aspects. They are lying on surface hoar in some places, in particular on the Main Alpine Ridge and to the north. Faceted weak layers exist in the old snowpack, especially on shady slopes above approximately 2200 m, as well as on sunny slopes above approximately 2500 m.

A lot of snow will fall on Thursday, especially in the northwest. Significant increase in avalanche danger as a consequence of new snow and strong wind. The snowpack will become unstable over a wide area.