Tuxer Alps West

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow are to be assessed with care and prudence.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow are to be assessed with care and prudence.

As a consequence of new snow and a strong to storm force northwesterly wind, extensive wind slabs formed in the last few days. These can be released by a single winter sport participant in particular on west to north to southeast facing aspects above the tree line. In some places avalanches can release the weakly bonded old snow as well and reach a dangerous size. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible. The avalanche prone locations are quite prevalent. They are to be found on west to north to east facing aspects below approximately 2400 m. As a consequence of warming during the day and the solar radiation, the likelihood of moist loose snow avalanches being released will increase a little on extremely steep slopes. In the regions with a lot of snow gliding avalanches and snow slides are possible. The current avalanche situation calls for careful route selection.

The wind was storm force over a wide area. In some cases the various wind slabs have bonded still only poorly with each other and the old snowpack. Faceted weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack, especially on wind-protected west, north and east facing slopes. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm indicating the danger.

The snowpack remains prone to triggering.