Fresh and older snowdrift accumulations can be triggered even by one sole skier. Danger zones occur particularly on steep shady slopes, in wind-loaded gullies and bowls, and behind protruberances in the terrain. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude. Where there has been rain impact, slides and, on steep grassy slopes, small glide-snow avalanches are possible. Caution urged below glide-cracks.
Snowpack
The fresh snow and drifts lie deposited atop an unfavorable, expansively metamorphosed old snowpack surface, often atop surface hoar, on shady slopes in particular. Also inside the snowdrifts themselves there are frequently trigger-sensitive intermediate layers evident. On sunny sloppes, bonding to the old snowpack surface is better. Due to rain impact the snowpack will temporarily be weakened.
Tendency
Avalanche danger levels not expected to change significantly
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Gliding snow
Caution urged towards fresh drifts at high altitude. Increasingly frequent slides and glide-snow avalanches due to rain impact.
Fresh and older snowdrifts can be triggered even by one sole skier. Danger zones occur particularly on steep shady slopes, in wind-loaded gullies and bowls and behind protruberances in the terrain. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude. In addition, in steep shady terrain at high altitudes where the snow is shallow, isolated transitions from shallow to deep snow can trigger avalanches in the weak old snow by large additional loading. On steep grass-covered slopes, slides and small glide-snow avalanches are possible, particularly in sunny aspects. Caution urged below glide cracks.
Snowpack
Fresh snow and drifts lie deposited atop an unfavorable, expansively metamorphosed old snowpack surface, often atop surface hoar, on shady slopes in particular. Also inside the snowdrifts themselves there are frequently trigger-sensitive intermediate layers evident. On sunny slopes, bonding to the old snowpack surface is better. At high altitudes, weak layers near the ground and faceted intermediate layers inside the old snowpack can often be triggered. In regions where there has been rain impact the snowpack is being temporarily weakened.
Tendency
Storm-strength southerly winds will transport the snow and generate new drifts, thus, avalanche danger can increase regionally.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Gliding snow
Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations demand caution. More slides and glide-snow avalanches due to rain impact.
Fresh and older snowdrifts can be triggered even by one sole skier. Danger zones occur particularly on steep shady slopes, in wind-loaded gullies and bowls and behind protruberances in the terrain. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude. In regions where there has been rain impact an on steep grass-covered slopes, glide-snow avalanches are possible. Caution urged below glide cracks.
Snowpack
The fresh snow and drifts lie deposited atop an unfavorable, expansively metamorphosed old snowpack surface, often atop surface hoar, on shady slopes in particular. Also inside the snowdrifts themselves there are frequently trigger-sensitive intermediate layers evident. On sunny slopes, bonding to the old snowpack surface is better. In zones where there has been rain impact the snowpack is being temporarily weakened.
Tendency
Storm-strength southerly winds will transport the snow and generate new drifts, thus, avalanche danger can increase regionally.
