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
About 5-10cm of fresh snow is anticipated on shady slopes above 1800-2000m, deposited often atop a loose old snowpack surface. In places the surface hoar will be blanketed. The old snowpack is weak, but doesn’t tend towards fracture propagation since the requisite slab is lacking. On shady slopes that are wind-protected there is loose snow. On sunny slopes the layering of the below-average snowpack is stable, and gliding over smooth ground has seldom been observed.
Tendency
Avalanche danger levels expected to increase slightly by Friday evening due to 10-20cm of fresh snow
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Isolated danger zones occur on steep shady slopes
Avalanche danger above 2000m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Snowdrift accumulations can in some places be triggered even by one sole skier, esp. in steep ridgeline terrain, also on slopes behind protruberances in the landscape which are distant from ridgelines where they lie deposited atop a weak fundament, esp. on very steep shady slopes. Avalanches can grow to medium size if they fracture to more deeply embedded layers. Naturally triggered, mostly small glide-snow avalanches are possible in isolated cases.
Snowpack
About 5-10cm of fresh snow is anticipated on shady slopes above 1800-2000m, deposited often atop a loose old snowpack surface. In places the surface hoar will be blanketed. 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
Avalanche danger levels expected to increase slightly by Friday evening due to 10-20cm of fresh snow
