Danger level
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Fresh wind slabs require caution. Weakly bonded old snow requires caution.
The more recent wind slabs can be released easily in all aspects above the tree line, especially at their margins. In addition the hard wind slabs are capable of being triggered in isolated cases still.
Avalanches can in some cases be triggered in deep layers and reach large size. Caution is to be exercised in all aspects also in areas close to the tree line. The avalanche prone locations are sometimes covered with new snow and are difficult to recognise.
Gliding avalanches are possible.
Caution and restraint are important.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold
In some regions up to 10 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall. As a consequence of a strong wind from southwesterly directions, further wind slabs will form. The brittle wind slabs are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack. The old snowpack is faceted; its surface is loosely bonded and consists of surface hoar and faceted crystals. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack and field observations confirm poor snowpack stability.
Tendency
Fresh wind slabs require caution.
