Avalanche.report

Thursday 19 December 2024

Published 18 Dec 2024, 17:00:00


Danger level

2400m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2400m


Weak layers in old snow require attentiveness.

Avalanches can be triggered in the weak old snow even by one single skier, esp. on shady slopes above 2400m in transition zones into gullies and bowls. Avalanches are often medium-sized. Frequency and size of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude. In addition, older snowdrift accumulations on NW/N/NE facing slopes are still prone to triggering, particularly on shady, wind-protected slopes and generally by large additional loading in wind-protected zones.

Snowpack

dp.1: deep persistent weak layer

Strong-velocity winds have intensively transported the fresh and old snow. At intermediate levels of the old snowpack on shady, wind-protected slopes there are faceted, metamorphosed weak layers. Weather conditions are reinforcing a gradual consolidation of the snowpack on SE/S/SW facing slopes, particularly above 2600m. At all altitudes there is too little snow on the ground for this juncture of the season. The snowpack is highly irregular over small areas.

Tendency

Avalanche danger levels are expected to increase.