Avalanche.report

Wednesday 11 December 2024

Published 10 Dec 2024, 17:00:00


Danger level

1800m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Wind slab
1800m


Snowdrifts often lie deposited on weak old snow.

Avalanche danger above 1800m is moderate, danger is low below that altitude. Fresh and older snowdrifts are the major problem, these can trigger a small-to-medium sized slab avalanche by minimum additional loading in some places. They are blanketed by just a bit of fresh snow, making them hard to recognize. Danger zones occur near to ridgelines, in all aspects and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Frequency of avalanche prone locations tends to increase with ascending altitudes.

Snowpack

A few centimetres of powder snow blanket the snowdrifted masses from the last few days. These drifts lie at 1800-2100m atop a melt-freeze crust which formed last Friday, under which a trigger-sensitve layer of faceted crystals has formed in some places. In addition, inside the old snowdrifted masses there are often weak intermediate layers. The old snowpack fundament is highly diverse in thickness, in exposed zones it is often lacking completely.

Tendency

Avalanche danger levels are expected to slowly recede.


Danger level


Avalanche Problem
Wind slab


Older snowdrifts often prone to triggering

Avalanche danger is low, in isolated cases small drifts can trigger small sized slab avalanches by minimum addtional loading, e.g. the weight of one single skier. Danger zones occur particularly in steep terrain near ridgelines on S/W/NW facing slopes and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. They are covered by a small amount of fresh snow, thus are difficult to recognize. The risks of being forced to take a fall outweigh those of being buried in snow masses.

Snowpack

A few centimetres of loosely-packed powder snow now blanket small, older snowdrift accumulations on windward slopes. These drifts often lie atop trigger-sensitive intermediate layers. The old snowpack at high altitudes show marked effects of wind, the snow depths are highly varied.

Tendency

Little change in avalanche danger levels is anticipated.