Avalanche danger is low. Main problem: freshly generated snowdrift accumulations which in wind-loaded zones on N/E/S facing slopes can trigger by minimum additional loading. Slab avalanche releases are small, the risks of taking a fall are greater.
Snowpack
Since Thursday night, storm-strength westerly winds have often been generating trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations. The old snowpack at high altitudes is often frozen hard, it is generally stable and moist-to-wet. The old snowpack fundament is frozen hard on the surface and contains several crusts inside. At intermediate altitudes, sunny slopes are often bare of snow or have only a few cm of loose snow. Also in the forest regions there is little snow on the ground.
Tendency
No significant change anticipated
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Circumvent trigger-sensitive drifts
Avalanche danger above 1800m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: snowdrift accumulations. These can trigger a medium-sized avalanche by one sole skier/snowboarder. Avalanche prone locations occur in steep ridgeline terrain on N/E/S facing slopes and in wind-loaded gulles and bowls. At lower altitudes the slab avalanche releases are small, larger higher up. Possibility of medium-sized glide-snow avalanches on steep smooth grass-covered slopes in all aspects, releases mostly small, but occasionally medium-sized. Possibility of medium-sized glide-snow avalanches on steep smooth grass-covered slopes in all aspects, releases mostly small, but occasionally medium-sized.
Snowpack
Storm-strength westerly winds will generate often trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations. The old snowpack at high altitudes contains layers of faceted, rounded crystals near crusts, these are prone to triggering in isolated cases on shady slopes at 1800-2000m atop an thin icy flim, often prone to triggering. There are also trigger-sensitive layers inside the snowdrifts. The stable old snowpack fundament is frozen hard on the surface and contains several crusts inside. At intermediate altitudes it is moist-to-wet. Winds and sun-exposed zones at intermediate altitudes are often bare of snow or have only a few cm of loose snow. Also in the forest regions there is little snow on the ground.
Tendency
On Sunday, winds will shift to northeasterly. To begin with, no significant change anticipated in avalanche danger.
