Freshly generated small snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering on north-facing slopes
Avalanche danger above 2000m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Where there is foehn impact small slab avalanches can in some places be triggered by minimum additional loading, esp. on ridgeline, shady, steep slopes and in gullies and bowls. In very isolated cases, releases of medium size can be triggered from the old snowpack, esp. above 2200m on north-facing slopes, in high-alpine zones in all aspects. Danger zones hard to recognize even for the practiced eye. On extremely steep sunny slopes, small, wet loose-snow avalanches can release during the course of the day. Isolated small glide-snow avalanches are possible.
Snowpack
The generally small snowdrift accumulations generated by southerly foehn winds were deposited often atop a loose snowpack surface of faceted crystals or surface hoar. Weak layers in the lowermost part of the snowpack are no longer likely to trigger. The surface is highly varied, in wind-protected terrain there are places with loose powder. Sunny slopes: due to mild temperatures and solar radiation the snowpack surface has become wet. During the nighttime hours a melt-freeze crust forms, often capable of bearing loads on very steep south-facing slopes; these crusts then soften up during the day. On west and east-facing slopes the crust is not capable of bearing loads, making descents burdensome. Below the timberline there is often little snow on the ground.
Tendency
No significant change in danger levels anticipated.
Danger level
Predominantly favorable situation, circumvent small snowdrift accumulations
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 slab avalanches can be triggered only by large additional loading. In extremely steep sunny terrain, small wet loose-snow avalanches can trigger during the day. Isolated small naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches are possible.
Snowpack
Thin snowdrift accumulations cover weak layers and surface hoar on shady or loose snow. 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 which then turns to firn snow during the daytime. On steep north-facing slopes there is still loose snow to be found.
