Avalanche.report

Thursday 2 January 2025

Published 1 Jan 2025, 17:00:00


Danger level

2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Wind slab
1900m


Freshly generated snowdrifts from southerly foehn winds plus weak layers in old snowpack

Avalanche danger levels are moderate. Avalanches can be triggered even by minimum additional loading in some places above 2200m. Danger zones occur particularly on north and east facing slopes above 2200m, on south-facing slopes above 2400m. Danger zones increase in frequency with ascending altitude and can be medium-sized. Caution urged in transitions from shallow to deep snow. Glide-snow avalanches can trigger at any time of day or night where the snow depths are sufficient, particularly blow 2400m on E/S/W facing slopes. Circumvent zones below glide cracks.

Snowpack

At night on sunny slopes and at low altitudes, a melt-freeze crust can form which then softens during the course of the day. The fresh snow has been transported far-reachingly. Exposed ridges and crests are windblown, gullies and bowls are filled to the brim even at the forest rims. The most recent snowfall has settled well. On shady slope the snowpack is still loosely-packed, was frequently able to expansively metamorphose again. Above 2200m the snowpack layering is generally unfavorable with several weak layers of faceted crystals. The entire snowpack can glide over steep rock plates or grassy slopes.

Tendency

On Friday, fresh snowdrifts to increase the danger of slab avalanches


Danger level

2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Gliding snow
2400m


Weak layering of old snowpack at high altitude is main problem

Avalanche danger levels are moderate. Avalanches can be triggered even by minimum additional loading in some places above 2200m. Danger zones occur particularly on north and east facing slopes above 2200m, on south-facing slopes above 2400m. Danger zones increase in frequency with ascending altitude and can be medium-sized. Caution urged in transitions from shallow to deep snow. Glide-snow avalanches can trigger at any time of day or night where the snow depths are sufficient, particularly blow 2400m on E/S/W facing slopes. Circumvent zones below glide cracks.

Snowpack

At night on sunny slopes and at low altitudes, a melt-freeze crust can form which then softens during the course of the day. The fresh snow has been transported far-reachingly. Exposed ridges and crests are windblown, gullies and bowls are filled to the brim even at the forest rims. The most recent snowfall has settled well. On shady slope the snowpack is still loosely-packed, was frequently able to expansively metamorphose again. Above 2200m the snowpack layering is generally unfavorable with several weak layers of faceted crystals. The entire snowpack can glide over steep rock plates or grassy slopes.

Tendency

On Friday, fresh snowfall to increase the number of avalanche prone locations


Danger level

2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Gliding snow
2400m


Weak layering of old snowpack is main problem

Avalanche danger levels above 2200m are moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Avalanches of medium size can be triggered even by minimum additional loading in some places above 2200m, particularly on W/N/SE facing slopes and in transitions from shallow to deep snow. Danger zones increase with ascending altitude. Avalanches can reach medium size.

Snowpack

The snow on sunny slopes and at low altitudes can form a melt-freeze crust at night which then softens during the daytime. Exposed ridges and crests are windblown, gullies, bowls and slopes near forest rims are filled with snow. The transported snow has settled in the interim. On shady slopes the fresh snow is still loose, the snowpack was able to repeatedly metamorphose expansively. Above 2200m the snowpack layering is generally unfavorable, several weak layers of faceted crystals are evident. Especially on north-facing slopes the covered surface hoar is prone to triggering.

Tendency

On Friday, fresh snowfall to increase the number of avalanche prone locations


Danger level


Avalanche Problem
Gliding snow


Circumvent zones below glide cracks

Avlanche danger is low, gliding snow is the main problem. On steep grass-covered slopes and over rock plates where the snow depths are sufficient, small glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally a any time of day or night.

Snowpack

The snow on sunny slopes and at low altitudes can form a melt-freeze crust at night which then softens during the daytime. Exposed ridges and crests are windblown, gullies, bowls and slopes near forest rims are filled with snow. The fresh fallen snow has settled in the interim. On shady slopes the fresh fallen snow is still loose, the snowpack was able to metamorphose repeatedly, forming faceted crystals. The entire snowpack can start to glide over steep rock plates or grassy slopes.

Tendency

On Friday, fresh snowdrifts to increase the danger of slab avalanches