In few places, avalanches can trigger in the old snow. Circumvent snowdrift accumulations.
Avalanche danger above 2000m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. In few places, an avalanche can be triggered by large additional loading as a slab avalanche. Danger zones are mostly small, occur in all aspects, hard to recognize even for the practiced eye. Fresh and older drifts on some NW/SE facing ridgeline slopes can be easily triggered as a small slab by minimum additional loading, these are easy to recognize, releases remain small-sized. On extemely steep slopes small loose-snow avalanches are possible. Isolated small glide-snow avalanches are possible.
Snowpack
Atop a hardened crust and on high-altitude shady slopes in wind-protected terrain, there is still loose snow atop round crystals. In some places, winds from varying directions have transported the snow and blanketed layers of loose fresh snow on shady slopes or older surface hoar which is prone to triggering. On steep shady slopes the old snowpack fundament is expansively metamorphose (faceted crystals) and can in isolated cases be triggered. On sunny slopes up to 2400m there is no longer an area-wide cohesive snowpack fundament. In addition, on sunny slopes faceted layers near surface-near crusts have been generated. Where a slab has formed atop this, it is prone to triggering. On East/West/South facing slopes the snowpack in early morning bears a thin melt-freeze crust.
Tendency
No significant change in danger levels anticipated.
Danger level
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
2400m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
2400m
Predominantly favorable conditions - slightly higher danger levels due to higher temperatures
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. 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 ridgeline zones, small fresh, often trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations require attentiveness, esp. on steep shady slopes these drifts have been deposited atop loose snow and are prone to triggering. 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
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Naturally triggered avalanches possible in isolated cases
Avalanche danger is low. Wet snow can be problematic. Small loose-snow and glide-snow avalanches can triggered during the daytime hours, mostly on sunny extremely steep slopes and steep slopes with deep enough snow and a smooth ground surface.
Snowpack
As a result of nocturnal cooling, a melt-freeze crust can form. Due to solar radiation it softens up during the daytime. On sunny slopes the snowpack is moist on the surface, forfeiting firmness. On shady slopes the snow is also moist on the surface. At high altitudes the loose snow is still prone to triggering. Snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes have usually consolidated well. The snowpack basis is wet in some places. On south-facing slopes the ground is becoming bare of snow.
Tendency
Wet-snow avalanches remain a risk, but avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.
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.
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. Small-sized danger zones occur on very steep NW/SE facing slopes above 2200m and are easy to recognize for the practiced eye. Here, avalanches can often be triggered by minimum additional loading but the releases remain small. In isolated cases a small glide-snow avalanche is possible. Isolated small naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches possible.
Snowpack
Thin snowdrift accumulations cover weak layers and surface hoar on shady or loose snow. In addition, on sunny slopes, faceted crystals near surface-near crusts have generated. Where a slab has been generated atop this, it can be triggered. The markedly below-average old snowpack fundament consists of several crusts of faceted crystals but is all-in-all very compact and does not tend towards fracture propagation. On east/west/south facing slopes the snowpack bears a thin melt-freeze crust in early morning.
Tendency
No significant change expected
Danger level
2300m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2300m
Caution: weak layers prone to triggering in very isolated cases. Danger zones occur seldom.
Weak layers in the old snow can be triggered in very 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. These danger zones occur seldom. Avalanche releases tend to be small-sized. The risks of being swept along and forced to take a fall outweigh those of being buried in snow masses. On very steep sunny slopes, daytime warming and solar radiation make isolated small wet loose snow slides possible.
Snowpack
In the lowermost part of the snowpack there are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers, esp. on W/N/E facing slopes. Very steep sunny slopes: the uppermost part of the snowpack is well consolidated, with a melt-freeze crust on the surface. 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
Very isolated danger zones in gullies and bowls
Weak layers inside the old snow can be triggered in isolated cases, esp. on shady wind-protected slopes at high-altitudes. Caution urged in transitions into gullies and bowls. Danger zones occur seldom. 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
Shady slopes: in the middle part of the snowpack there are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers, esp. on NW/N/NE facing slopes. Very steep sunny slopes: upper part of the snowpack is well consolidated, a melt-freeze crust on the furface. 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
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
Wet snow
2400m
At high altitudes, caution urged towards small drifts. Slightly rising danger due to higher temperatures.
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 occasionally prone to triggering. The danger of being swept along and forced to take a fall outweighs that of being buried in snow masses. In the Silvretta region, more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack in rarely-skied terrain on steep shady slopes can in isolated cases be triggered by large additional loading. As temperatures rise and solar radiation makes itself felt, slides and small wet-snow avalanches and also more frequent small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches are possible. 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. More deeply embedded layers of the snowpack can be triggered in isolated cases above 2400m by large additional loading, esp. in the Silvretta region. 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 not expected to change significantly
