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
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. On very steep sunny slopes, daytime warming and solar radiation make isolated small wet loose snow slides possible. The risks of being swept along and forced to take a fall outweigh those of being buried in snow masses.
Snowpack
Shady slopes: 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
Avalanche danger low. Danger spots only in some places in shady, extremely steep areas.
Still low avalanche danger. Danger spots can be located in high altitudes in shady, extremely steep areas. There slab avalanches and driftsnow accumulations could be triggered. In sunny slopes spontaneous wet snow avalanches are possible.
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 layers in rare cases. The snow surface will get wet, especially on sunny slopes. Blown-off areas are hard and icy. The kinetic metamorphosis weakens the snow base on shady slopes. In general usual low amount of snow.
Tendency
On Sunday it will be predominantly cloudy but with hardly any precipitation. The avalanche danger stays low.
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
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Predominantly favorable conditions - slightly increased danger levels due to higher temperatures
Due to higher temperatures and solar radiation, slides and increasingly frequent small wet avalanches as well as small-to-medium sized glide-snow avalanches are possible. Caution urged below glide cracks. 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.
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 also on Sunday
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Caution urged against falls on icy hard surfaces
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 high-altitude sunny slopes. On very steep slopes with deep enough snow and a smooth ground surface, glide-snow avalanches possible.
Snowpack
In early morning the snowpack is compact, often frozen hard, and largely stable. Due to solar radiation it softens up rapidly during the daytime. The snowpack is then moist on the surface, forfeiting firmness, in some places it is utterly wet. On shady slopes the snow is also moist on the surface. Only at high altitudes is the loose snow still dry. Snowpack analysis and snow profiles show good snowpack stability by and large. On south-facing slopes the ground is becoming bare of snow.
Tendency
Avalanche danger levels not expected to change significantly in the next few days
Danger level
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
2400m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
2400m
Wind slab
2200m
Slightly rising danger due to higher temperatures
Due to higher temperatures and solar radiation, slides and increasingly frequent small wet avalanches as well as small-to-medium sized glide-snow avalanches are possible. Caution urged below glide cracks. 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.
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. Especially on steep slopes these are poorly bonded with the loose old snowpack layers. 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 will remain favorable also on Sunday
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 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.
