"Avalanche danger across broad swaths of the Alps and Pyrenees is expected to spike to dangerous levels on Sunday, December 11, as fresh snowfall and storm conditions combine to leave snowpacks unstable and prone to sliding. Forecasters and national avalanche services across France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and Spain are urging extreme caution for anyone planning to ski, ride, or travel in mountain terrain on Sunday."
"Heavy recent snowfall: In parts of the Alps and Pyrenees, ski areas and mountain forecasters report that large amounts of snow have fallen in just a few days, building deep new layers on top of older, weaker snowpacks. This creates prime conditions for wind slabs and slab avalanches on steep terrain. Wind and storm impact: Gusty winds accompanying the snowfall have redistributed snow across ridges and slopes, contributing to areas of unstable loading that can easily be triggered by a skier or natural release."
Avalanche danger will spike across broad areas of the Alps and Pyrenees on Sunday, December 11, after multiple days of heavy snowfall and storms. Up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) of snow accumulated in parts of the western Alps, building deep new layers atop older, weaker snowpacks and creating slab and wind-slab hazards. Gusty winds redistributed snow into unstable loadings on ridges and steep slopes, increasing human-trigger and natural-release potential. Risk levels are forecast at 4 (high) and even 5 (extreme) above the treeline, making off-piste and steep alpine terrain particularly dangerous. Meteo France issued a special avalanche bulletin warning that a single skier can trigger large avalanches.
Read at SnowBrains
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