Wind slabs must be evaluated with care and prudence.
The soft wind slabs of the weekend can be released by a single winter sport participant. Caution is to be exercised in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. In high Alpine regions the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent. In very isolated cases the avalanches in these regions are medium-sized. Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised as well in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
The new snow of the weekend is loosely bonded in all aspects. Snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. The snowpack remains subject to considerable local variations over a wide area.
Tendency
The avalanche danger will persist.
Danger level
1500m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1500m
The wind slabs represent the main danger.
The wind slabs are poorly bonded with the old snowpack above approximately 1500 m. These have formed in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls in all aspects. The new snow and wind slabs of the last few days can be released by a single winter sport participant above approximately 1500 m. Caution is to be exercised in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. Above approximately 1500 m the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent. Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
The weather will be cold over a wide area. As a consequence of low temperatures the snowpack will become faceted and therefore lose strength. The snowpack will become in some cases prone to triggering. In some cases the various wind slabs have bonded poorly with the old snowpack.
Tendency
The avalanche danger will persist.
Danger level
Only a little snow is lying. Wind slabs require caution.
The mostly small wind slabs are in some cases prone to triggering in particular on very steep shady slopes. Caution is to be exercised in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls.
Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised as well in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls. The Avalanche Warning Service currently has only a small amount of information that has been collected in the field, so that the avalanche danger should be investigated especially thoroughly in the relevant locality.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
The mostly small wind slabs are lying on soft layers above approximately 2400 m. Faceted weak layers exist in the bottom section of the snowpack in particular on shady slopes.
In all altitude zones only a little snow is lying. The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations. Snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind.
Tendency
Wind slabs require caution. Caution is to be exercised in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls.
