Wet-snow avalanches can be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts and grow to medium size. These avalanche prone locations are located particularly on W/N/E-facing slopes slopes. Rainfall anticipated in the afternoon hours, thereby the likelihood of avalanches triggering will increase.
Snowpack
dp.10: springtime scenario
Weather conditions are making the snowpack ever wetter, leading to a loss of firmness inside the snowpack, resulting to loss of snowpack firmness. Many starting zones have already completely dishcharged. Nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation hardly exists. The snowpack surface can barely freeze and softens rapidly. The snowpack is thoroughly wet. On steep sunny slopes below 1700m, hardly any snow on the ground.
Tendency
Little change in avalanche danger levels
Danger level
2800m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
2800m
Wind slab
2800m
Beware wet-snow and snowdrifts in high-alpine terrain
Wet-snow avalanches can in isolated cases be triggered by one winter sports enthusiast and grow to medium size. These avalanche prone locations are located particularly on W/N/E-facing slopes below 2800m. Rainfall is anticipated in the afternoon, thereby the likelihood of triggerings will increase. Fresh snowdrift accumulations can be triggered by one sole skier on very steep shady slopes above 2800m. Such danger zones occur esp. in ridgeline terrain, in gullies and in bowls.
Snowpack
dp.10: springtime scenario dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
Weather conditions below 2800m are leading to the snowpack becoming thoroughly wet, forfeiting firmness of the snowpack. Many wet-snow avalanches have already released, many starting zones have completely discharged, the snowpack is thoroughly wet. High-alpine zones: Due to fresh fallen snow and often strong southerly winds, small new snowdrift accumulations will be generated. Nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation is severely reduced, the snowpack hardly freezes, then soften rapidly in the morning hours. On steep sunny slopes below 1900m there is hardly any snow on the ground.
Tendency
No significant change expected
Danger level
2800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2800m
Wet snow
2800m
Beware trigger-sensitive snowdrifts in high-alpine zones, wet-snow problem lower down
Avalanche danger is moderate. In high-alpine zhones on wind-loaded shady slopes, in shady gullies and bowls, dry-snow slab avalanches can be triggered even by one sole skier. In isolated cases, avalanches in the old snow can fracture down to deeper layers and grow to medium size. On steep slopes below 2800m which have not yet discharged, naturally triggered avalanches can release due to solar radiation and grown to medium size, or else be trigger b persons. Also isolated small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches are possible.
Snowpack
The snowpack is compact, moist or wet up to high altitutudes, contains melt-freeze crusts, weak layers are isolated but occur above 2500m. In high-alpine zones, fresh fallen snow lies deposited atop the wind-impacted snowpack. Southerly winds have formed snowdrift accumulations there, often deposited atop faceted expansively metamorphosed crystals and prone to triggering in places. Higher daytime temperatures and solar raditaion moisten the snowpack and cause firmness to be forfeited.
Tendency
Proneness to triggering of high-alpine snowdrifts will further recede. Nocturnal outgoing radiation wil improve Tuesday night.
Danger level
1600m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
1600m
Humidity within the snowpack increases.
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
2800m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
2800m
Isolated medium-sized wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches
Avalanche danger is initially low, then rises to moderate. In a few places on steep slopes below 2800m, small-to-medium moist/wet avalanches can trigger naturally, or be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts. In isolated cases, small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches are possible. In the Hohe Tauern above 2800m in wind loaded shady terrain, in shady gullies and bowls, dry-snow slab avalanches can be triggered by minimum additional loading. In isolated cases avalanches can fracture down to deeper layers and then grow to medium size.
Snowpack
The compact snowpack is moist/wet up to high altitudes even in early morning, i.e. wet weak layers in the old snow are only evident in isolated cases above 2600m. In high-alpine zones, a melt-freeze crdust of settled often wind-impacted snow forms. Due to solar radiation and regional rainfall up to high altitudes, the snowpack is forfeiting its firmness.
Tendency
On Wednesday, more marked daytime danger cycle of naturally triggered avalanches due to previously improved nocturnal outgoing radiation.
BEFORE NOON Danger level
2600m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2600m
AFTERNOON Danger level
2600m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
2600m
Persistent weak layer
2600m
Daytime increase of avalanche danger.
Avalanche danger is low in early morning, then rises during the afternoon above 1600m to moderate. On steep slopes below 2600m which have not yet discharged, medium-sized wet-snow avalanches can trigger naturally or be triggered by persons. Also isolated small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches are possible. In high-alpine zones, fresh snowdrift accumulations require attentiveness, most of them are small but often easily triggered. Danger zones occur in gullies, bowls, behind protruberances in the terrain and on steep shady slopes above 2600m. Isolated small-to-medium avalanches can be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts in the old snow. Avalanche prone locations lie in seldom-tracked shady terrain and are difficult to recognize.
Snowpack
During mild nights of clear skies accompanied by showeres, the snowpack can freeze only slightly and in some places form a melt-freeze crust capable of bearing loads. There is little snow on the ground at high altitudes. Through higher daytime temperatures and solar radiation, the crust then softens rapidly and the snowpack loses its firmness. Beneath the melt-freeze crust the snowpack is thoroughly wet up to high altitudes. Especially in the Silvretta region on high-altitude very steep shady slopes there are still unfavorable intermediate layers evident inside the old snowpack.
Tendency
Avalanche danger will increase inside the daytime danger cycle on Wednesday. Starting Thursday, instable conditions, precipitation. Regionally avalanche danger can increase somewhat.
BEFORE NOON Danger level
1600m
Avalanche Problem
Gliding snow
1600m
AFTERNOON Danger level
1600m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
1600m
Gliding snow
1600m
Caution: increasing danger in daytime cycle of avalanche danger
Avalanche danger in the morning hours is low, rises during the afternoon hours to moderate above 1600m. On steep slopes in all aspects which have not yet discharged, wet-snow avalanches can release naturally or be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts and, in high altitude zones, grow to medium size. In isolated cases small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches are possible.
Snowpack
During the mild nighttime hours, reduced outgoing longwave radiation, the snowpack can freeze only superficially. With higher daytime temperatures and solar radiation the thin crust swiftly softens and the snowpack loses its firmness. Beneath the melt-freeze crust the snowpack is thoroughly wet.
Tendency
Avalanche danger will increase inside the daytime danger cycle.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Beware wet snow. Isolated danger zones.
Naturally triggered wet-snow avalanches will increase with the daytime danger cycle. Wet-snow avalanches can be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts, mostly small releases.
Snowpack
dp.10: springtime scenario
Weather conditions are leading to the snowpack becoming thoroughly wet. Many wet-snow avalanches have already released, many starting zones have completely discharged, the snowpack is thoroughly wet, very little snow in some regions. Nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation hardly exists. The snowpack surface can barely freeze and softens rapidly. On steep sunny slopes and below 1800m there is hardly any snow on the ground.
Tendency
No significant change expected
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
2000m
Isolated small spontaneous loose and wet-snow avalanches in the afternoon.
The avalanche danger is assessed as low. The few danger spots are located above 2000m in extremely steep, north-facing slopes and gullies that have not yet been unloaded. Spontaneous loose and wet-snow avalanches cannot be ruled out there.
Snowpack
The snowcover is isothermal and till high altitudes wet or moist. On southern exposed slopes the snow has almost fully retreated and the retreatment increases. On the sunny sides the snow has already retreated over 2000m.
Tendency
The weather is unsettled on Wednesday. Rain showers appear from time to time, but it remains mild. No significant change of the avalanche danger.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Isolated danger zones for wet-snow avalanches
Avalanche danger is low. In isolated cases, small glide-snow or wet-snow avalanches can release in steep terrain which has not yet discharged or it can be triggered by persons.
Snowpack
On sunny slopes, the ground is becoming bare. What little snow there is, is moist-to-wet (0-degree isotherm) and often forms a crust capable of bearing loads after a night of clear skies. Daytime warming and solar radiation soften the crust and make it forfeit its firmness.
Tendency
On Wednesday, more marked daytime danger cycle of naturally triggered avalanches due to previously improved nocturnal outgoing radiation.
