Snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering in places
Avalanche danger above 2200m is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is low. Slabs, mostly small-sized, can be triggered even by minimum additiional loading both near to and distant from ridgelines and behind protruberances in the landscape on southwest to north to east-facing slopes. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude If they fracture down to more deeply embedded layers in the snowpack the releases can grow to medium size. On extremely steep sunny slopes, small loose-snow avalanches are possible.
Snowpack
Fresh and older snowdrift masses lie atop a thin rain crust above 2200-2400m, on steep sunny slopes atop a melt-freeze crust which is only partially capably of bearing loads. Near the crusts are weak layers of faceted, expansively metamorphosed crystals. In wind-protected terrain the fresh snow is still very loosely-packed, winds have generated a bonded slab. The border to the old snowpack and loosely-packed snow inside the snowdrifts can serve as a weak layer, more deeply embedded weak layers are triggerable only in isolated cases. Particularly in wind-protected zones there is snow which is rewarding to skiers, it is faceted, expansively metamorphosed powder which is settling increasingly with rising temperatures.
Tendency
Snowdrift problem is receding
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Evaluate snowdrifts and persistent weak layer problem with great caution
Avalanche danger above 2200m is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is low. In all aspects, small-to-medium slab avalanches can be triggerd by minimum additional loading in places. Danger zones occur mostly near ridgelines and behind protruberances in the landscape. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude. As of 2300m, releases can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack and grow to larger size. Small glide-snow and loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally. Avalanche danger above 2000m is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is low. Slabs, mostly small-sized, can be triggered even by minimum additiional loading both near to and distant from ridgelines and behind protruberances in the landscape on north, northwest and south facing slopes. If they fracture down to more deeply embedded layers in the snowpack the releases can grow to medium size. On extremely steep sunny slopes, small loose-snow avalanches are possible.
Snowpack
Fresh and older snowdrift masses lie atop a thin rain crust above 2200-2400m, on steep sunny slopes atop a melt-freeze crust which is only partially capably of bearing loads. Near the crusts are weak layers of faceted, expansively metamorphosed crystals. In wind-protected terrain the fresh snow is still very loosely-packed, winds have generated a bonded slab. The border to the old snowpack and loosely-packed snow inside the snowdrifts can serve as a weak layer, more deeply embedded weak layers are triggerable only in isolated cases. On extremely steep sunny slopes, s loose-snow avalanches are possible. Particularly in wind-protected zones there is snow which is rewarding to skiers, it is faceted, expansively metamorphosed powder which is settling increasingly with rising temperatures.
Tendency
Snowdrift problem is receding
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Circumvent sm-area snowdrift accumulations
Avalanche danger is low. Slabs, mostly small-sized, can trigger particularly on very steep and extremely steep north, northwest and south-facing slopes by minimum additional loading. Isolated small glide-snow and loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally. Danger zones occur on very steep and extremely steep slopes, in entries into gullies and bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape. On extremely steep sunny slopes, small loose-snow avalanches are possible.
Snowpack
On top of a shallow and relatively compact snow cover, snow and drifts (with embedded graupel) lie deposited. During the night, surface hoar can form. In wind-protected terrain, loose fresh snowfall still lies on the surface. Particularly in wind-protected zones there is snow which is rewarding to skiers, it is faceted, expansively metamorphosed powder which is settling increasingly with rising temperatures.
