Fresh drifts on shady slopes and hidden persistent weak layer problem
Avalanche danger above 2000m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. In few places, an avalanche can be triggered by one sole skier as a slab avalanche. Danger zones are nearly impossible to recognize, most critical behind protruberances in the landscape and in gullies and bowls. Fresh drifts on some ridgeline slopes can be easily triggered as a small slab. The wind-loaded zones are easily recognized, watch out for the risks of falling. On very steep sunny slopes, small loose-snow avalanches are possible. Isolated small naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches are possible.
Snowpack
Atop a hardened crust (or else, bare ground) 10-30 cm of loosely-packed snow lie deposited, often wind impacted. On shady slopes at high altitudes the fresh snow from Friday has also been deposited atop loose snow or surface hoar. The fundament on steep shady slopes at high altitudes is expansively metamorphosed. Atop a hardened crust (or else, bare ground) 10-30 cm of loosely-packed snow lie deposited, often wind impacted. On shady slopes at high altitudes the fresh snow from Friday has also been deposited atop loose snow or surface hoar. The fundament on steep shady slopes at high altitudes is expansively metamorphosed. Also to be found on sunny slopes. On sunny slopes the snow is sticky or has a melt-freeze crust in the early morning hours.
Tendency
No significant change in danger levels anticipated
Danger level
2300m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2300m
Caution: weak layers prone to triggering in very isolated cases
Weak layers in the old snow can be triggered in isolated cases by one sole skier on steep W/N/E facing slopes above 2300m. Caution in transitions from shallow to deeper snow, e.g. at entry points into gullies and bowls, releases can reach medium size. Due to northerly winds, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations were generated in gullies, bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape. They can be triggered by one sole skier in the weak old snow, esp. on NW/N/E facing slopes above 2200m. Danger zones are generally small-sized. Apart from the danger of being buried in snow masses, the risks of being swept along and forced to take a fall require adequate consideration. On very steep sunny slopes, daytime warmth and solar radiation makes mostly small wet loose-snow avalanches possible in isolated cases.
Snowpack
dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
In the lowermost part of the snowpack there are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers, esp. on W/N/E facing slopes. The fresh snowdrift accumulations lie deposited atop an unfavorable old snowpack surface in high-alpine zones. Sunshine and higher temperatures during the daytime moisten the snowpack. Highly varied snow depths, depending on wind impact. There is too little snow on the ground for this juncture of the season.
Tendency
Danger level
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Caution: snowdrift accumulations in high altitudes!
Still low avalanche danger. Danger spots can be located in high altitudes in the expositions north to east and behind ridgelines. There slab avalanches and driftsnow accumulations could be triggered in extremly steep slopes by high additional loads.
Snowpack
In high altitudes small amounts of snowdrift accumulations have formed which partially are on top of faceted snow which can be considered as weak layer or they are on top of a hard surface. Blown-off areas are hard and icy. The kinetic metamorphosis weakens the snow base.
Tendency
Thursday night a weak bad weather system passes through.no significant amounts of new snow are expected. No significant change of the avalanche danger.
Danger level
Heed fresh snowdrifts. Isolated danger zones in gullies and bowls.
Snowpack
In the lowermost part of the snowpack there are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers, esp. on W/N/E facing slopes. The fresh snowdrift accumulations lie deposited atop an unfavorable old snowpack surface in high-alpine zones. Sunshine and higher temperatures during the daytime moisten the snowpack. Highly varied snow depths, depending on wind impact. There is too little snow on the ground for this juncture of the season.
Fresh drifts require attentiveness in high-altitude ridgeline and pass areas, they can be released by one sole skier and are mostly small-sized. Frequency and size of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude. The snowdrifts can be triggered as a small slab avalanche. Apart from the danger of being buried in snow masses, the risks of being swept along and being forced to take a fall require adequate consideration. The danger of small, in isolated cases medium-sized glide-snow avalanches is still difficult to assess. Caution urged below glide cracks.
Snowpack
The below-average snowpack is well consolidated by and large. In high altitude pass and rigeline zones, small fresh, often trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations require attentiveness, esp. on steep shady slopes these drifts have been deposited. On sunny slopes the most recent snowfall is already moist and is forming a melt-freeze crust. During the daytime hours, this crust softens up again.
Tendency
Avalanche danger levels will slowly recede.
Danger level
Only few danger zones, low danger
Avalanche danger is low. Isolated triggerings are possible in extremely steep terrain. In high-altittude pass and ridgeline zones, small-area fresh drifts require attentiveness. They are often prone to triggering but small sized. The danger of being swept along and forced to take a fall outweighs that of being buried in snow masses. The risk of small glide-snow avalances continues to be difficult to assess. Caution urged below glide cracks.
Snowpack
The below-average snowpack is well consolidated by and large. In high altitude pass and rigeline zones, small fresh, often trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations require attentiveness, esp. on steep shady slopes these drifts have been deposited. On sunny slopes the most recent snowfall is already moist and is forming a melt-freeze crust. During the daytime hours, this crust softens up again.
Tendency
Avalanche danger levels expected to remain favorable
Danger level
Favorable situation
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. Isolated small naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches possible.
Snowpack
Atop a melt-freeze crust (or else, bare ground) loosely-packed snow lies deposited. Surface hoar has often been blanketed. Due to winds from varying directions small snowdrifts are being generated from the loose fresh snow or faceted crystals near the near-surface crusts, these are prone to triggering. The weak layers also occur on sunny slopes. The very below-average old snow fundament consists of several crusts with faceted crystals beneath them, but all-in-all is often quite compact and only seldom tends towards fracture propagation. On sunny slopes the snow is sticky or as a thin melt-freeze crust.
Tendency
No significant change in danger levels anticipated
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Snowdrifts prone to triggering in isolated cases
Avalanche danger is low. Snowdrifts can be problematic at high altitudes. Small slab avalanches can be triggered by minimum additional loading. Avalanche prone locations are found in steep shady ridgeline terrain and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Apart from the danger of being buried in snow masses, the risks of being swept along and forced to take a fall require adequate consideration.
Snowpack
Nocturnal outgoing short-wave radiation is generating a melt-freeze crust on sunny slopes. On the shady side the snowpack surface is powdery.Isolated freshly-generated snowdrifts at high altitudes are prone to triggering. Older drifts have consolidated. Inside the snowpack at high altitudes there are still layers of faceted crystals, unlikely to trigger. The snowpack fundament is frequently wet. South-facing slopes are becoming increasingly bare of snow.
Tendency
As temperatures rise, wet-snow problems will move into the foreground.
