Caution urged in transitions from shallow to deeper snow
Avalanche danger above 2000m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Slabs can be triggered even by one sole skier on W/N/E facing slopes. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude. Danger zones are nearly impossible to recognize in open terrain. Whumpf noises and cracks when you tread upon the snowpack, as well as fresh avalanche releases, are alarm signals and indicate imminent danger. In addition, snowdrift accumulations in the near-surface layers can be triggered in some places, releases mostly small. Naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches are possible.
Snowpack
Inside the old snowpack on very steep shady slopes there are weak layers of faceted crystals, snowdrifts form the slab at surface level. On the one hand, the snow was able to metamorhose esp. where snow is shallow; on the other, below the near-surface melt-freeze crust there are also faceted crystals. On shady slopes there is still loose snow evident, on sunny slopes firn conditions are being generated.
Tendency
Persistent weak layer problem will gradually recede as snowpack settles
Danger level
1900m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1900m
Danger zones hard to recognize.
Avalanche danger above 1900m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Avalanches can in some places be triggered even by one sole skier. Above 2200m avalanches can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers in the snowpack, particularly on steep north-facing slopes. Whumpf noises and cracks when you tread upon the snowpack, as well as fresh avalanche releases, are alarm signals and indicate imminent danger. Naturally triggered glide-snow and loose-snow avalanches are possible, mostly small sized releases. Small naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches are possible.
Snowpack
Inside the old snowpack on very steep shady slopes there are weak layers of faceted crystals, snowdrifts form the slab at surface level. On the one hand, the snow was able to metamorhose esp. where snow is shallow; on the other, below the near-surface melt-freeze crust there are also faceted crystals. On shady slopes the loose snow is still evident, on sunny slopes it is turning to firn.
Tendency
Persistent weak layer problem will gradually recede as snowpack settles
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
No distinct avalanche problem
Only isolated danger zones
Avalanche danger is low. Triggering a small slab (most likely above 2000m on shady very steep slopes) is possible in a few places. In isolated cases a small glide-snow avalanche is possible.
Snowpack
The small amount of snow is quite compact and often capped by a hardened and icy crust atop of which a few cm of loose or wind-compacted snow lie deposited.
