Slight increase in wet snow avalanche danger during the course of the day
The avalanche danger is moderate. Wet snow is the main problem. Wet sliding snow avalanches slide off spontaneously on extremely steep slopes with smooth ground that have not yet been discharged. Wet loose snow avalanches detach themselves from the steep rocky terrain when exposed to sunlight. Wet snow avalanches usually remain small.
Old snow can be problematic at high altitudes. Danger spots can be found on very steep slopes in the northern exposures. Slab avalanches can be triggered by large additional loads in particular and tend to be small.
Snowpack
The snow cover is soaked right up to the higher elevations. In open areas, a partially stable layer of snow forms at night. When exposed to sunlight, the remaining snow cover quickly loses its firmness during the day; on the shaded side, it hardly softens despite warm temperatures. Sliding movements occur on smooth ground. At the highest altitudes, isolated layers of angular crystals prone to disruption have been preserved on the shaded side. This is particularly the case in the area of melted snow crusts in the upper part of the snowpack.
Tendency
Wet snow avalanche activity decreases with colder temperatures.
Danger level
2400m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
2400m
Gliding snow
2400m
Wind slab
2200m
Main dangers: persistent weak layer and gliding snow
Due to daytime warming and solar radiation, mostly small-sized wet loose-snow avalanches are possible. Also glide-snow avalanches continue to be naturally triggerable on steep, smooth slopes. On shady high-altitude slopes, older snowdrift accumulations are still prone to triggering. In general, only small slab avalanches can be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts. In addition, slab avalanches can be triggered in the old snow in places by large additional loading. Caution urged on high-altitude, very steep shady slopes.
Snowpack
The snowpack has been weakened up to high altitudes through rain impact. As a result of nocturnal outgoing radiation the snowpack can consolidate superficially. In the daytime hours it softens up, particularly on sunny slopes, and the danger of wet-snow avalanches rises somewhat. Older snowdrift accumulations on shady, high-altitude slopes are still prone to triggering. Particularly on high-altitude shady slopes, faceted intermediate layers occur inside the snowpack. They can often be triggered.
Tendency
The danger of dry-snow avalanches continues to decrease. Danger of wet-snow avalanches is subject to a daily danger cycle, rising slightly during the daytime.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Gliding snow
Caution: gliding snow and wet-snow avalanches during the daytime hours
Due to daytime warming and solar radiation, mostly small-sized wet loose-snow avalanches are possible. Also glide-snow avalanches continue to be naturally triggerable on steep, smooth slopes. On shady high-altitude slopes, older snowdrift accumulations are still prone to triggering. In general, only small slab avalanches can be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts.
Snowpack
The old snowpack has been weakened by rainfall up to high altitudes. Due to adequate nighttime outgoing radiation the snowpack can consolidate superficially. During the daytime it softens up, particularly on sunny slopes, and the danger of wet-snow avalanches rises somewhat. Older snowdrift accumulations are still prone to triggering, particularly on shady slopes.
Tendency
The danger of dry-snow avalanches continues to decrease. Danger of wet-snow avalanches is subject to a daily danger cycle, rising slightly during the daytime.
Danger level
2400m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2400m
Gliding snow
2400m
Weak old snow and sliding snow are the main dangers.
The avalanche danger is moderate above 2400 metres and low below. Above around 2400 m, slab avalanches can be triggered in places by individual winter sports enthusiasts. The avalanches usually remain small, but can occasionally become medium-sized if they break through into deeper layers. Danger spots for this are located on very steep western, northern and eastern slopes, especially at the transitions from little to much snow. Small, very occasionally also medium-sized, spontaneous sliding snow avalanches are still possible from very steep, not yet discharged grass mat terrain.
Snowpack
The surface is dominated by (broken) harsch, which can become soft during the day purely on the sunny side.
Above around 2400 m, bound snow (due to rain or drift snow) lies on a layer of old snow with soft layers of angular crystals, which are prone to disruption. These weak layers are found in particular on western, northern and eastern slopes.
Below around 2000 metres, the remaining snow cover is often damp or wet right down to the ground.
Tendency
Weak layers in old snow remain susceptible to disruption.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Gliding snow
2400m
Weak old snow and sliding snow are the main dangers.
The avalanche danger is moderate above 2000 metres and low below. Above around 2000 m, slab avalanches can be triggered in places by individual winter sports enthusiasts. The avalanches usually remain small, but can occasionally become medium-sized if they break through into deeper layers. Danger spots for this are located on very steep western, northern and eastern slopes, especially at the transitions from little to much snow. Small, occasionally also medium-sized, spontaneous sliding snow avalanches are possible from very steep, still undischarged grass mat terrain.
Snowpack
The surface is dominated by (crushed) harsch cover. On the sunny side only, the snow cover can soften somewhat during the day. Above around 2000 m, bound snow (due to rain or drift snow) lies on an old snow cover with soft layers of angular crystals, which are susceptible to disruption. These weak layers are found in particular on western, northern and eastern slopes.
Below around 2000 metres, the remaining snow cover is often damp or wet right down to the ground.
Tendency
Weak layers in old snow remain susceptible to disruption.
EARLIER Danger level
1700m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
1700m
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
LATER Danger level
1700m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
1700m
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
If the weather is sunny, the risk of avalanches on steeper slopes will increase during the day.
Warm and sunny weather may lead to more frequent spontaneous small avalanches of wet snow on steep slopes during the day in the coming days. In arid areas above the tree line, weak layers are present in the snow cover. In a few places, a small to medium sized snow avalanche can be triggered under higher loads.
Snowpack
dp.4: cold following warm / warm following cold
In recent days, the crust has been building up on the slopes in sunny weather. In the shadier and sheltered areas, the snow cover remains more loose and dry. Mostly, however, it is increasingly transformed by wind and sun. In arid areas, weak layers may be present in the snow cover. During the day tomorrow, the snow cover will become more pronounced and less stable on sloping terrain.
Tendency
Especially on steep slopes, the risk of avalanches will increase slightly during the day and decrease rapidly in the evening. Snow will remain mostly dry and poorly transformed in the arid areas.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Gliding snow
Gliding snow and wet loose-snow slides during daytime hours
As a result of daytime warming and solar radiation, wet loose-snow slides are possible. Glide-snow avalanches continue to trigger naturally on steep smooth slopes. Due to the shallowness of the snow, avalanches remain small-sized.
Snowpack
The snowpack has been weakened up to high altitudes as a result of rain impact. Through adequate nocturnal outgoing radiation the snowpack can consolidate superficially. During the course of the day it softens up and the danger of wet-snow avalanches rises slightly.
Tendency
The danger of wet-snow avalanches is subject to a daily danger cycle, increasing slightly during the course of the day.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Largely safe conditions
The avalanche danger is low. Wet snow can still be problematic on extremely steep slopes. Individual, small sliding snow avalanches slide down slippery meadow slopes that have not yet been discharged. Where there is still snow on the steep rocky terrain to the south, it can slide off as a small, wet loose snow avalanche.
Snowpack
The snow is soaked right up to the higher elevations. On open areas, a partially stable layer of snow forms at night. When exposed to sunlight, the remaining snow cover loses some of its firmness during the day; on the shaded side, it hardly softens despite warm temperatures. At the highest altitudes, isolated layers of angular crystals remain. Overall, the snow cover has receded considerably. The lower elevations are thinning out on the sunny side.
Tendency
The avalanche danger remains low.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Gliding snow
Little snow, low avalanche danger.
The avalanche danger is low. Small, spontaneous sliding snow avalanches are possible from very steep, as yet undischarged grass mat terrain.
Snowpack
There is often little snow and the lower elevations are becoming increasingly thin. The existing snow cover has been moistened by the rain right up to the summit regions. In the morning hours, the snow surface is partly hard and hardened, during the day it softens on the sunny side. The entire snow cover can slide off on slippery ground. In the shaded summit areas, there are still isolated weak layers of angular crystals in the snow cover.
Tendency
Little change, the avalanche danger remains low. Isolated small sliding snow avalanches are still possible.
