Langtaufers

Released avalanches and stability tests confirm a sometimes precarious avalanche situation.

Released avalanches and stability tests confirm a sometimes precarious avalanche situation.

The snow sport conditions outside marked and open pistes remain to some extent precarious. Single winter sport participants can release avalanches as before. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in west to north to east facing aspects above approximately 2200 m and on steep sunny slopes above approximately 2800 m. Avalanches can penetrate down to the ground and reach dangerously large size especially in the regions with a lot of snow. Caution is to be exercised in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example. The avalanche prone locations are difficult to recognise. Extensive experience in the assessment of avalanche danger is required. As a consequence of a moderate to strong wind from westerly directions, mostly small wind slabs will form in particular adjacent to ridgelines as well as at elevated altitudes. In addition a certain danger of gliding avalanches and snow slides exists. This applies on steep grassy slopes below approximately 2400 m.

The wind will be moderate to strong in some cases. Over a wide area 5 cm of snow will fall. New snow and wind slabs are lying on a weakly bonded old snowpack. Towards its base, the snowpack is faceted and weak. The old snowpack will be moist at low and intermediate altitudes. The upper section of the snowpack is hard and its surface has a crust that is not capable of bearing a load.

Weakly bonded old snow is to be evaluated critically.