Wind slabs require caution. Weakly bonded old snow at elevated altitudes.
The fresh and older wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in isolated cases on very steep shady slopes. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain above approximately 2400 m. Avalanches can reach medium size in isolated cases. 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.
In isolated cases avalanches can also be released in near-ground layers, in particular on very steep shady slopes at elevated altitudes. Steep, glaciated terrain must also be critically assessed.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
A little snow is lying. The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations. The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack on shady slopes at elevated altitudes. Faceted weak layers exist in the bottom section of the old snowpack in shady places that are protected from the wind.
Tendency
Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.
Danger level
The avalanche prone locations are very rare.
The somewhat older wind slabs can be released in isolated cases, but mostly only by large additional loads, on extremely steep shady slopes, in particular in gullies and bowls at elevated altitudes. Avalanches are small.
Karawanks West, Karwanks Central, Karawanks East: Weak layers near the ground can be released in very isolated cases on northwest, north and northeast facing slopes. This applies in gullies and bowls above approximately 1800 m.
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
The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations. From a snow sport perspective, in most cases insufficient snow is lying. The somewhat older wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack especially on steep shady slopes at elevated altitudes.
Karawanks West, Karwanks Central, Karawanks East: Faceted weak layers exist in the bottom section of the old snowpack in places that are protected from the wind. This applies in particular on northwest, north and northeast facing slopes above approximately 1800 m.
Tendency
From a snow sport perspective, in most cases insufficient snow is lying.
Danger level
Individual avalanche prone locations for dry avalanches are to be found in particular on shady slopes above approximately 2400 m.
The somewhat older wind slabs can be released in isolated cases, but mostly only by large additional loads, on very steep shady slopes. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found in gullies and bowls above approximately 2400 m. The mostly small wind slabs are clearly recognisable to the trained eye. 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
The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations. From a snow sport perspective, in most cases insufficient snow is lying. The moderate wind will transport only a little snow. Somewhat older wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack on steep shady slopes.
Tendency
From a snow sport perspective, in most cases insufficient snow is lying. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found at elevated altitudes.
