Rising danger of moist/wet avalanches due to rainfall
Due to rainfall, increasingly frequent moist/wet-snow avalanches are possible, esp. on steep slopes in all aspects. Releases are relatively small and can be triggered in the old snow even by one sole skier. Such danger zones lie on very steep shady slopes and in transitions into gullies and bowls above 1900m and can reach medium size.
Snowpack
dp.3: rain dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
Heavy rainfall, and some snowfall, esp. at high altitudes. Nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation is nearly absent. The snowpack is moist. In the lowermost part of the snowpack there are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers evident, esp. at high altitudes.
Tendency
Beware wet snow
Danger level
2300m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2300m
Persistent weak layer
2300m
Wet snow
2300m
Wet-snow problem up to high altitudes. Above 2300m: assess snowdrifts and wet snow critically!
Avalanche danger is moderate. Dry-snow slab avalanches can be triggered by one sole skier above 2300m, the fresh snowdrifts have been deposited also distant from ridgelines in gullies and bowls, avalanches can reach medium size and fracture down to more deeply embedded layers in the snowpack esp. on little-tracked steep north-facing slopes, above 2500m also on E/W facing slopes. Small-to-medium moist and dry-snow naturally triggered slab avalanches are possible. Wet-snow avalanches in extremely steep terrain and isolaated glide-snow avalanches can be expected, mostly small releases.
Snowpack
On shady slopes at high and high-alpine altitudes the freshly generated foehn-induced drifts lie deposited atop an unfavorable snowpack surface. Inside the old snowpack are several weak layers of faceted crystals which can serve as a slab atop the fresh snowdrifts. Also on sunny slopes, moist slabs can slide away over the uppermost crusts of the old snowpack. Due to reduced nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation and solar radiation during daytime hours, the snowpack is at least moist up to 2300m and is rapidly forfeiting its firmness.
Tendency
Likelihood of the snowdrifts triggering will gradually decrease, wet-snow problem will persist
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
2000m
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Slightly rising danger of moist/wet avalanches due to rainfall. Caution: weak layers in old snow.
Due to rainfall, increasingly frequent moist/wet-snow avalanches are possible, esp. on steep slopes in all aspects below 2000m. Releases are relatively small and can be triggered in the old snow even by one sole skier. Such danger zones lie on very steep shady slopes and in transitions into gullies and bowls above 2000m on steep N/W/E facing slopes and in gullies and bowls and can reach medium size. In addition, small snowdrifts accumulations require attentiveness, esp. at high altitudes.
Snowpack
dp.3: rain dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
Heavy rainfall, and some snowfall (up to 20cm), esp. at high altitudes. Nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation is nearly absent. The snowpack is moist. In the lowermost part of the snowpack there are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers evident, esp. at high altitudes. In the middle part of the snowpack on N/W/E facing slopes there are facted weak layers, esp. above 2000m. Due to fresh snowfall and moderate-to-strong velocity southerly winds, small snowdrift accumulations will be generated esp. in ridgeline terrain.
Tendency
Beware wet snow and weak old snow
Danger level
1500m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
1500m
Wind slab
2200m
Fresh snowdrifts at high altitudes, wet-snow avalanches during daytime hours
Snowpack
Tendency
Wet-snow avalanches during course of day. Snowdrifts increasingly stabilizing.
Danger level
1500m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
1500m
Wind slab
2200m
Fresh snowdrifts at high altitudes, wet avalanches during daytime
Snowpack
Tendency
Wet-snow avalanches during course of day. Snowdrifts increasingly stabilizing.
Danger level
1500m
Avalanche Problem
Gliding snow
1500m
Wet snow
Gliding snow activity increasing
Avalanche danger is moderate above 1500m. Gliding snow is the main problem. On very steep slopes in all aspects, wet glide-snow avalanches can release naturally over smooth ground, releases mostly small sized. In addition small wet loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally in extremely steep terrain. In isolated cases, the old snow on very steep ridgeline terrain in northern aspects can be problematic. Small slab avalanches can be triggered by minimum additional loading, esp. in transitions from shallow to deeper snow.
Snowpack
Light rainfall is expected during the nocturnal hours. In daytime, showers can be expected which will moisten the snowpack up to high altitudes. When moisture reaches ground level, the snowpack can begin to glide over smooth ground. Otherwise the snowpack is stable. Only on shady slopes at high altitudes is the near-surface snow still loose and dry. In a few places there is a weak layer at ground level. As the result of a bit of fresh snow and wind, small snowdrift patches can be forems. On south-facing slopes the ground is mostly bare of snow.
Tendency
The snowdrift problem could come to the forefront in case there is fresh snowfall.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Wind slab
2500m
Wet snow
2000m
Caution: weak layers in the old snow, fresh snowdrifts at high and high-alpine altitudes
Weak layers can be triggered in the old snow even by one sole skier. Such danger zones lie on N/W/E facing very steep shady slopes and in transitions into gullies and bowls above 2200m. Very isolated danger zones also occur on very steep sunny slopes above 2600m. Avalanches can in isolated cases reach medium size. In addition, fresh snowdrift accumulations require attentiveness, esp at high and high-alpine altitudes. Due to snowpack moistening, isolated moist loose-snow avalanches are possible, esp. on very steep slopes, small releases.
Snowpack
dp.1: deep persistent weak layer dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
Up to 10cm fresh snow expected regionally, locally more, esp at high altitudes. In the middle part of the snowpack on N/W/E facing slopes there are faceted weak layers, esp above 2200m. Due to fresh snowfall and moderate-to-strong velocity southerly winds, small snowdrift accumulations will be generated esp. in ridgeline terrain. Nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation hardly exists, which leads to increasing moistening of the snowpack esp. below 2200m.
Tendency
Attention: weak old snow and fresh snowdrifts
Danger level
1900m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1900m
Wet snow
Rising danger of moist/wet avalanches due to rainfall. Attention: weak layers in old snow.
Due to rainfall, increasingly frequent moist/wet-snow avalanches are possible, esp. on steep slopes in all aspects below 2000m. Releases are relatively small and can be triggered in the old snow even by one sole skier. Such danger zones lie on very steep shady slopes and in transitions into gullies and bowls above 2000m on steep N/W/E facing slopes and in gullies and bowls and can reach medium size.
Snowpack
dp.3: rain dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
Some rainfall below 2000m, and some snowfall, esp. at high altitudes. Nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation is nearly absent. The snowpack is moist. In the lowermost part of the snowpack there are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers evident, esp. above 2000.
Tendency
Attention: wet snow and weak layers in the old snow
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
2000m
Isolated danger zones.
Moist/wet avalanches can be triggered in the old snow even by one sole skier in all aspecdts on very steep shady slopes and in transitions into gullies and bowls, esp at high altitudes. Isolated danger zones occur esp. on very steep shady slopes at high altitudes.
Snowpack
dp.3: rain dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
Some rainfall below 2000m, and some snowfall, esp. at high altitudes. Nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation is nearly absent. The snowpack is moist. In the lowermost part of the snowpack there are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers evident, esp. above 2000.
Tendency
Danger level
1900m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1900m
Wet snow
Avalanche danger low. Persistent weak layers in shady high areas!
Avalanche danger is in general low. A few danger spots exist. Medium slab avalanches can be triggered by high additional especially in entries to extremely steep shady gullies, bowls and slopes above2.000 m. The amount of danger spots is increasing with height. Small spontaneous wet snow are to expect in all expositions.
Snowpack
Older snowdrift deposits are placed on a weak base in shady high areas. Apart of that the snowcover has stabilized in most areas due to warming. The snow base is predominantly made of faceted snow and relatively soft. Rain showers can destabilize the snow cover in places which can lead to spontaneous avalanches.
Tendency
On Monday changing mild weather conditions with unproductive rain showers. The avalanche danger stays low.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Avalanche activity is moving to regions where snow is sufficient
Avalanche danger is low. Wet snow is the main problem. Small loose-snow slides can trigger naturally in extremely steep sunny terrain wherever sufficient snow has fallen due to solar radiation. In isolated cases on very steep north-facing slopes at high altitudes, persistent weak layers can be problematic. Near ridgelines, esp in transitions from shallow to deeper snow, small slab avalanches can be triggered by minimum additional loading. In addition, isolated small glide-snow avalanches are possible over smooth ground on steep slopes.
Snowpack
Light rainfall is expected during the nocturnal hours. In daytime, showers can be expected which will moisten the snowpack up to high altitudes. When moisture reaches ground level, the snowpack can begin to glide over smooth ground. Otherwise the snowpack is stable. Only on shady slopes at high altitudes is the near-surface snow still loose and dry. In a few places there is a weak layer at ground level. As the result of a bit of fresh snow and wind, small snowdrift patches can be forems. On south-facing slopes the ground is mostly bare of snow.
Tendency
The snowdrift problem could come to the forefront in case there is fresh snowfall.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Danger of falling outweighs that of being buried in snow masses
Avalanche danger is low. Isolated small loose-snow naturally triggered avalanches are possible or can be triggered by one sole skier. Danger zones for small slab avalanches in the snowdrifts occur seldom on very steep N/E facing slopes at high altitudes. On steep grass-covered slopes, isolated small glide-snow avalanches are possible.
Snowpack
The shallow, generally stable snowpack has consolidated well. On shady slopes, thin fresh snowdrift accumulations are being generated. Due to reduced nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation and often diffuse radiation the snowpack is superficially moist and forfeiting its firmness.
