Vorsicht Dachlawine!

Snow has fallen for several weeks in Kandern, piling up along the streets and against fences.  As I walked to and from shops and school toward the end of last week I noticed handprinted signs posted on walls and along the walks.  "Vorsicht Dachlawine"

"Vorsicht" I knew-Warning!  This word Dachlawine had me perplexed, though.  I assumed the posting were warning against icy walkways, but the word "Eis" was nowhere in this word.  And what does "wine" have to do with walking in the snow???

 I looked up the word, and I laughed when I found "Dachlawine".  German is notorious for making what we call in English compound words, sometimes using a number of words to make a new word.  "Dach" is roof.   "Lawine" is avalanche.  The accumulation of wet snow on the roofs could come sliding down off the roof in a most untimely fashion.  I would not want to be under it.

It is snowing again.  I will watch out for those roof avalanches as I walk through town!