Caution urged in steep shady terrain seldom skied on and towards fresh snowdrifts
Avalanche danger mostly low. Danger zones occur mostly in steep shady terrain above 2200m, in transitions from shallow to deep snow and in areas with shallow snow. Activities in backcountry demand cautious route selection, particularly in shady steep terrain seldom skied on. Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations are prone to triggering in some places, require attentiveness in steep terrain.The danger of small-to-medium sized glide-snow avalanches continues to be difficult to assess. Caution urged below glide cracks.
Snowpack
The snowpack is well consolidated up to high altitudes. Particularly on shady slopes there are weak layers evident which can easily be triggered. Snowpack surfaces are often powdery on shady, wind-protected slopes. Elsewhere there are wind crusts and a melt-freeze crust evident. Elsewhere a wind crust is evident which is often capable of bearing loads, on sunny slopes there is a melt-crust. Small snowdrift accumulations are evident. During the course of the day, the superficially encrusted snowpack will moisten/soften on steep sunny slopes. Small-area fresh snowdrifts have been generated.
Tendency
Avalanche danger levels will remain low-to-moderate also on Wednesday
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Wind slab
2200m
Assess snowdrift accumulations on steep shady slopes with caution
Avalanche danger above 2000m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Fresh snowdrift accumulations can in some places be triggered as a slab even by one sole skier, esp. in steep ridgeline terrain, also on slopes behind protruberances in the landscape which are distant from ridgelines. Avalanches can grow to medium size if they fracture to more deeply embedded layers. Trigger points lie esp. in transitions from shallow to deeper snow or in the opposite direction, esp, on very steep north-facing slopes. Naturally triggered small glide-snow avalanches are possible in isolated cases.
Snowpack
Southerly foehn winds generated shallow snowdrift accumulations on shady slopes which are prone to triggering atop the loose, faceted old snowpack surface. Inside the old snowpack on very steep shady slopes there are weak layers of faceted crystals. On the one hand, the snow was able to metamorphose esp. where snow is shallow; on the other, below the near-surface melt-freeze crust there are also faceted crystals. Snowdrifts can form a slab on the surface above the faceted crystals. On shady slopes loose snow is still evident.
Tendency
No change expected
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Caution: weak layers in old snowpack can trigger in isolated cases
Avalanches can be triggered in the weak layers by one sole skier in some places, and grow to medium size. Danger zones occur mostlyn on W/N/E facing slopes in transitions from shallow to deeper snow, e.g. at entry points into gullies and bowls, a on very steep shady slopes above 2200m. Attention must be given to the dangers of being swept along and forced to take a fall.
Snowpack
dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
W/N/E facing slopes above 2200m: in the lowermost part of the snowpack are faceted expansively metamorphosed weak layers evident. The uppermost part of the snowpack is expansively metamorphosed, there is surface hoar and also faceted crystals. Sunny slopes below 2800m: the snowpack is largely stable, with a crust on the surface. Over small areas it is highly diverse. Below 1700m there is hardly any snow on the ground.
Tendency
Weak layers in the old snowpack demand caution
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
South-facing slopes are becoming increasingly bare.
Avalanche danger is low. Isolated old snowdrift accumulations can be triggered as small slab avalanches. Avalanche prone locations occur in extremely steep shady high altitude terrain. The risks of taking a fall outweigh those of being buried in snow masses.
Snowpack
The snowpack is largely stable. Under partly clear skies, a nocturnal melt-freeze crust capable of bearing loads will form in some places that will melt again in the sun. In north aspects at high altitude the snowpack surface is expansively metamorphosed (faceted) and still dry. Atop the snowpack surface there are isolated small older snowdrift accumulations. Part of the snowpack base is wet.
Tendency
For the time being avalanche danger remains low.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Only isolated, small-area danger zones on very steep wind-loaded shady slopes
Avalanche danger is low. Triggering a small slab is possible in only few places, most endangered are shady slopes in very steep terrain above 2000m. In isolated cases a small glide-snow avalanche is possible.
Snowpack
The fundament is weak (faceted crystals beneath crusts) but fracture propagation is unlikely (lacking slab). On shady slopes there is loose snow, on sunny slopes firn conditions are developing. On sunny slopes the layering is stable, gliding snow masses are being observed only seldom.
Tendency
No significant change expected on Tuesday
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Wind slab
2000m
Favorable conditions, but fresh snowdrifts over small areas
Avalanche danger is low. Isolated triggerings possible on extremely steep slopes. At high altitudes, small freshly generated snowdrift accumulations require attentiveness, they are frequently prone to triggering. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the danger of being swept along and forced to take a fall need due consideration. The danger of small, in isolated cases medium-sized glide-snow avalanches is difficult to estimate. Caution urged below glide-cracks.
Snowpack
The snowpack is well consolidated up to high altitudes. Particularly on shady slopes there are weak layers evident which can easily be triggered. Snowpack surfaces are often powdery on shady, wind-protected slopes. Elsewhere there are wind crusts and a melt-freeze crust evident. Elsewhere a wind crust is evident which is often capable of bearing loads, on sunny slopes there is a melt-crust. Small snowdrift accumulations are evident. During the course of the day, the superficially encrusted snowpack will moisten/soften on steep sunny slopes. At high altitudes fresh drifts are evident over small areas. Older drifts are generally quite compact.
Tendency
Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.
Danger level
Avalanches hardly possible, danger zones occur seldom.
Weak layers can trigger in transitions into gullies and bowls in very isolated cases, releases small, particularly on NW/N/NE facing slopes above 2000m, generally triggerable only by large additional loading. Attention must be given to the dangers of being swept along and forced to take a fall.
Snowpack
Along the Italian border some snowfall is anticipated. Shady slopes: there are faceted expansively metamorphosed weak layers evident in the old snowpack. The snowpack is largely stable, with a surface crust. There is little snow on the ground. Below 1700 m there is hardly any snow.
Tendency
No significant change i avalanche danger levels expected
Danger level
1700m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1700m
Weak expression of persistent weak layers and gliding snow problems.
Low avalanche danger. Small slab avalanches can be triggered with high additional loads in some places in higher altitudes. Danger spots are found in extreme steep terrain on the transition from little to high amounts of snow in the expositions west via north to east. Spontaneous gliding snow avalanches coming from steep slopes with smooth surfaces are cannot be ruled out.
Snowpack
The snow cover and is predominantly stable. Only in shady slopes in higher altitudes an old snow layer which is weakened by kinetic metamorphosis is found. On sunny slopes surface hoar is formed during the night which will soften during the day. On shady areas the snow on top is often still loose and in exposed areas hard and wind pressed. The snow base is partially moist, gliding movements of the snow cover can not be ruled out. In medium and low altitudes only little amount of snow is found.
Tendency
The Avalanche danger is not significantly changing.
