Avalanche danger levels above the treeline are moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Snowdrifts are the major problem. Slab. avalanches of medium size can be triggered even by minimum additional loading, particularly near to ridgelines on N/E/SW facing slopes. Danger zones are difficult to recognize due to diffuse light conditions.
Snowpack
The fresh fallen snow has been heftily transported. Inside the fresh snow, short-lived weak layers are forming near the surface. At low and intermediate altitudes the old snowpack is generally well consolidated. Above 2000m the fresh snow and drifts are often faceted near crusts. In some places on shady wind-protected slopes above the treeline, surface hoar has formed. The entire snowpack can glide over steep rock plates or grassy slopes.
Tendency
On Sunday, fresh snowfall and winds will lead to increasing avalanche danger levels.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Slab avalanches in the snowdrifts can fracture down to deeper weak snowpack layers
Avalanche danger above the treeline is considerable, below that altitude danger is low. Snowdrift accumulations are the main problem. Slab avalanches of medium size can in some places b e triggered even by minimum additional loading, i.e. the weight of one person. In some places above 2200m they can fracture down to deeper weak layers in the old snow and thereby grow to large size. Danger zones can be difficult to recognize due to diffuse light conditions. They occur also distant from ridgelines and on slopes in NW/N/SE aspects. On the Main Alpine Ridge, danger. zones occur in all aspects. In some places, the snowdrifts have been blanketed over, making them difficult to recognize.
Snowpack
The fresh fallen snow has been heftily transported. Inside the fresh snow, short-lived weak layers are forming near the surface. At high altitudes the fresh snow is falling atop a generatlly wind-compressed snowpack surface where the bonding is good. IAbove 2000m the fresh snow and drifts have often been deposited atop faceted crystals near crusts, in some places surface hoar has been blanketed on shady, wind-protected slopes above the treeline. Deeper down inside the old snowpack fundament there are soft layers lodged between hard layers at high altitudes. At low and intermediate altitudes the old snowpack beneath the fresh fallen snow is melt-freeze encrusted. The entire snowpack can start to glide over steep rock plates or grassy slopes.
Tendency
On Sunday, fresh snowfall and winds will lead to increasing avalanche danger levels.
