Lechtal Alps East

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.

The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack on west to north to east facing aspects. These can be released easily, even by a single winter sport participant,. Avalanches can release the weakly bonded old snow as well and reach medium size. Caution is to be exercised in particular on wind-loaded slopes, as well as in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain above the tree line. Avalanches can additionally in some places be released in the weakly bonded old snow also. Such avalanche prone locations are barely recognisable. In the regions neighbouring those that are subject to danger level 3 (considerable) the prevalence and size of the avalanche prone locations will increase. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm indicating the danger.

As a consequence of the sometimes strong wind the wind slabs have increased in size additionally. These are lying on surface hoar in particular on wind-protected shady slopes. The snowpack is unfavourably layered. The old snowpack consists of faceted crystals.

Weak layers in the old snowpack can be released even now by individual winter sport participants. The wind slabs are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack.