Avalanche prone locations in old snow on shady sides.
Avalanche danger above 2200m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Weak layers in the old snowpack are the main problem. Slab avalanches can trigger especially by large additional loading and in transition from shall to deep snow. Danger zones occur in steep ridgeline terrain above 2200m, in particular in shady aspects, near ridgelines, in very steep high terrain where medium-sized avalanches cannot be ruled out. Isolated smaller glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally on steep grass-covered slopes and rock plates where there is sufficient snow on the ground.
Snowpack
Snow on the shady side is still dry and expansively metamorphosed at the surface. A layer consisting of faceted crystals formed in some places with wind crusts in high altitude terrain on the shady side. With ascending altitude an increasing number of layers consisting of faceted crystals persists also under older snowdrift accumulations at high altitude. At low altitudes the snowpack is shallow, moist down to the ground. Gliding movements over smooth grass-covered slopes are possible.
Tendency
On Thursday, avalanche danger will change little.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Gliding snow
Weak layers in the old snowpack persist at high altitude on the shady side. In addition, avoid zones below glide cracks.
Avalanche danger is moderate. Weak layers in the old snowpack are the main problem. Slab avalanches can trigger especially by large additional loading and in transition from shall to deep snow. Danger zones occur in particular in shady aspects, near ridgelines, in steep high altitude terrain. Avalanches can grow to medium size. In addition, glide-snow avalanches can release spontaneously at any time of day or night. This applies to steep grass-covered slopes, forest aisles, and rock slabs in all aspects. At high altitudes such avalanches can reach medium size.
Snowpack
Snow on the shady side is still dry; at higher altitudes expansively metamorphosed at the surface. In some places, weak layers persist underneath a melt-freeze crust or under older snowdrift accumulations; their proneness to triggering increases with ascending altitude. At low altitudes the snowpack is shallow, moist down to the ground. Gliding movements over smooth grass-covered slopes cannot be excluded, especially at high altitudes where there is more snow.
Tendency
On Thursday, avalanche danger will change little.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Gliding snow
Predominantly stable conditions
Avalanche danger is low. Gliding snow is the main problem. Isolated small glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally on steep grass-covered slopes with sufficient snow. Slab avalanches (mostly small) will only be triggered in very isolated cases in shady aspects at higher altitudes. In particular by large additional loading and at transitions from steep to shallow snow.
Snowpack
The snowpack is largely stable. At higher altitudes, snow on the shady side is still dry and from place to place expansively metamorphosed at the surface. Isolated weak layers persist underneath a melt-freeze crust; in the Ammergau Alps also embedded graupel. The snowpack is shallow. On the sunny side the ground is becoming increasingly bare. The snowpack base is wet. Gliding movements over smooth grass-covered slopes cannot be excluded.
