Border Graie Alps

Fresh wind slabs represent the main danger.

Fresh wind slabs represent the main danger.

Some snow has fallen since Sunday in some regions. Since Monday the wind has been strong. The clearly visible wind slabs of the last two days can be released by a single winter sport participant in particular on west to north to east facing aspects above the tree line. On wind-loaded slopes the avalanches can be triggered in the various wind slab layers and reach medium size. In the afternoon the likelihood of dry and moist avalanches being released will increase gradually in particular on very steep sunny slopes.

In some regions 5 to 20 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Sunday above approximately 1700 m. As a consequence of a strong northwesterly wind, hard wind slabs formed since Monday in particular in areas not adjacent to ridgelines. Outgoing longwave radiation during the night was good. Low and intermediate altitudes as well as steep sunny slopes: The surface of the snowpack has frozen to form a strong crust will soften during the day. Adjacent to ridgelines at high altitude snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. Over a wide area various wind slab layers are lying on a hard crust. Below the wind-eroded peaks, above around 1600 m, more snow is lying for the time of year.

Thursday: As a consequence of warming during the day and the solar radiation, the likelihood of moist and wet avalanches being released will increase a little on very steep sunny slopes. This also applies at the base of rock walls.