Caution on very steep shady slopes in high-alpine zones. Beware daytime increase in avalanche danger.
Winter sports enthusiasts can often trigger small-to-medium avalanches in the old snow. Danger zones occur mostly on very steep NW/N/NE-facing slopes and are difficult to recognize. Backcountry skiing tours demand a very conscious route selection. In high-altitude ridgeline terrain, fresh snowdrifts require caution. During the course of the day, avalanche danger increases to Danger Level 2. Especialy on sun-basked steep slopes, small-to-medium wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches are possible. Backcountry tours should be launched early, and brought to an end early in the day.
Snowpack
On very steep shady slopes at high altitudes, unfavorable intermediate layers are often evident in the old snowpack. Where there is no wind impaxct, the uppermost layers of often soft. The old snowpack is thoroughly wet up to high altitudes. Following good nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation the melt-freeze crust is capable of bearing loads in early morning hours. During the course of the day, it softens up from east-to-south-to-west, increasingly also on shady slopes, and thereby forfeits its firmness.
Tendency
Danger of dry-snow avalanches will recede. Further warming on Saturday, the zero-degree level will lie at 3300m. Danger of wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches will increase during the course of the day - significantly.
Danger level
2400m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2400m
Gliding snow
2600m
Only few danger zones for slab avalanches in old snow
Avalanche danger above 2400m is moderate. Slab avalanches can be triggered by minimum additional loading in some places, caution urged in transitions from shallow to deeper snow. On very steep north-facing slopes above 2400m and on W/E-facing slopes above 2600m, avalanches can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers of the snowpack and in isolated cases grow to large size. On extremely steep sunny slopes, small moist loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally during the course of the day. Due to strong-velocity northerly winds, small danger zones will be generated through fresh snowdrift patches which can be prone to triggering on very steep north-facing slopes (most are easy to recognize). From very steep grass-covered slopes below 2600m, isolated small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally.
Snowpack
The melt-freeze encrusted snowpack gradually softens up during the early daytime hours. In extended north-facing terrain there are still weak layers of faceted crystals in the old snowpack. On shady summit slopes, shallow snowdrift patches lie deposited often atop weak layers of surface hoar or faceted crystals. In high-alpine regions, thin snowdrifts are being generated on E/S-facing slopes. On shady slopes below 2200m and on sunny slopes, the old snowpack is mostly moist. On very steep, little structure terrain surfaces, the entire snowpack oftens glides downhill.
Tendency
On Saturday, sunny and warmer, zero-degree level at 3000m. Air will be moister, winds will taper off - naturally triggered wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches will increase.
BEFORE NOON Danger level
AFTERNOON Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Gliding snow
Predominantly favorable conditions in the morning. Beware slight daytime rise in danger.
Following good nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation the melt-freeze crust is capable of bearing loads in early morning, good conditions with low avalanche danger. Isolated triggerings are possible in extremely steep terrain by large additional loading. Apart from the danger of being buried in snow masses, the risks of being swept along and forced to take a fall require adequate caution. In high-altitude ridgeline terrain, fresh snowdrift accumulations require caution. Due to daytime warming and solar radiation, the snowpack forfeits its firmness and danger rises to Danger Level 2, moderate. Esp. on sun-basked steep slopes, small-to-medium wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches are possible. Backcountry tours should be launched early and brought to a close early in the day.
Snowpack
The old snowpack is thoroughly wet up to high altitudes. Following good nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation the melt-freeze crust is capable of bearing loads in early morning hours. During the course of the day, it softens up from east-to-south-to-west, increasingly also on shady slopes, and thereby forfeits its firmness. In high-alpine regions, small-area snowdrift accumulations are evident. At lower altitudes there is little snow on the ground.
Tendency
Danger of dry-snow avalanches will recede only slowly. On Friday, much warmer, zero-degree level at 3000m. Danger of wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches will increase.
Danger level
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Gliding snow
2200m
Slight daytime avalanche danger cycle due to solar radiation.
Avalanche danger is low. Gliding snow can be problematic. Isolated small glide-snow avalanches are possible on very steep slopes over smooth ground that have not yet discharged, in sparsely wooded deciduous forests, or on smooth rock slabs. Due to solar radiation, small wet loose snow slides/sluffs can trigger on extremely steep rocky slopes during the course of the day.
Snowpack
Early in the morning the snowpack is encrusted. Solar radiation will turn it to firn as the day progresses. The snowpack is increasingly wet. On sunny side slopes snow is receding strongly up to high altitudes. The snowpack base is wet in many places.
Tendency
Weather will become milder, i.e., due to daytime warming and solar radiation wet snow will become the predominant problem.
Danger level
Isolated danger zones at high altitudes
Weak layers in the uppermost part of the snowpack can in isolated cases be triggered by one sole skier. Such danger zones occur esp. on steep N/W/E-facing slopes above 2100m. Avalanches can in isolated cases grow to medium size. Due to solar radiation and daytime warmth, increasingly frequent wet-snow avalanches can be expected, especially on extremely steep sunny slopes, releases mostly small-sized. Acute danger of falling on hardened snowpack surfaces in steep terrain, esp. in the morning.
Snowpack
Nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation will be quite good. The snowpack surface will freeze and be capable of bearing loads in early morning, softening subsequently over the course of the day. The old snowpack is moist, particularly on sunny slopes at all altitudes and on shady slopes below 2100m. Inside the old snowpack on N/W/E-facing slopes there are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers, esp. abov 2400m. Below 1800m there is hardly any snow on the ground.
Tendency
Little change expected
Danger level
Isolated danger zones at high altitudes
Weak layers in the uppermost part of the snowpack can in isolated cases be triggered by one sole skier. Such danger zones occur esp. on steep N/W/E-facing slopes above 2100m. Avalanches can in isolated cases grow to medium size. Due to solar radiation and daytime warmth, increasingly frequent wet-snow avalanches can be expected, especially on extremely steep sunny slopes, likelihood of triggering increases, releases mostly small-sized since many starting zones have discharged. Acute danger of falling on hardened snowpack surfaces in steep terrain, esp. in the morning hours.
Snowpack
Nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation will be quite good. The snowpack surface will freeze and be capable of bearing loads in early morning, softening subsequently over the course of the day. The old snowpack is moist, particularly on sunny slopes at all altitudes and on shady slopes below 2100m. Inside the old snowpack on N/W/E-facing slopes there are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers, esp. abov 2200m. Below 1500m there is hardly any snow on the ground.
Tendency
Increase in avalanche danger levels due to higher daytime temperatures and solar radiation
Danger level
2600m
Avalanche Problem
Gliding snow
2600m
Mostly favorable avalanche situation
Avalanche danger is low. During the course of the day, likelihood of small wet-snow avalanches triggering on sunny steep slopes will increase somewhat. On very steep grass-covered slopes below 2600m which have not yet discharged, isolated mostly small glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally. Isolated danger zones for slab avalanches occur on very steep shady slopes above 2400m. Danger zones occur in wind-loaded gullies and bowls, behind protruberances in the terrain and in ridgeline areas, as well as in transitions from shallow to deeper snow.
Snowpack
The melt-freeze encrusted snowpack, only sometimes capable of bearing loads, gradually softens up during the early daytime hours. In extended north-facing terrain there are still weak layers of faceted crystals in the old snowpack. On shady summit slopes, shallow snowdrift patches lie deposited often atop weak layers of surface hoar or faceted crystals. In high-alpine regions, thin snowdrifts are being generated on E/S-facing slopes. On shady slopes below 2200m and on sunny slopes, the old snowpack is mostly moist. On very steep, little structure terrain surfaces, the entire snowpack oftens glides downhill.
Tendency
On Saturday, sunny and warmer, zero-degree level at 3000m. Air will be moister, winds will taper off - naturally triggered wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches will increase.
Danger level
Favorable avalanche situation
Quite favorable avalanche conditions prevail in general. Due to solar radiation, isolated moist avalanches can be expected during the course of the day, esp. on extremely steep sunny slopes. On hardened surfaces, acute danger of falls, esp. in the morning hours.
Snowpack
Nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation will be quite good. The snowpack surface will freeze and be capable of bearing loads in early morning, softening subsequently over the course of the day. The old snowpack is moist, particularly on sunny slopes at all altitudes and on shady slopes below 2100m. Inside the old snowpack on N/W/E-facing slopes there are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers, esp. abov 2100m. Below 1600m there is hardly any snow on the ground.
Tendency
Little change expected
Danger level
Predominantly good avalanche situation.
The avalanche danger is low. Danger spots are only in some places in shady steep areas in high altitudes. There the triggering of slab avalanches within the old snow can´t be ruled out with high additional loads. With sufficient radiation the risk of triggering of wet loose snow avalanches is increasing from steep sunny slopes.
Snowpack
The snow cover mostly settled and stable. In most places surface hoar has formed due to wind influence and nightly radiation. In places thin snowdrift deposits have formed which are poorly bonded with the old snow cover. Weak layers are only found in shady slopes in the highest altitudes within the old snow cover (Graupel, soft crystals). The old snow cover is moist even in high altitudes, especially on sunny slopes. In medium altitudes the snow cover has decreased especially on sunny areas.
