Weak old snow and sliding snow are the main dangers.
The avalanche danger is moderate above 2200 metres and low below. Above around 2200 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. The danger spots for this are on very steep north and east-facing slopes, especially at the transition 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 (fractured) harsch cover. Above around 2200 m, bound snow (due to rainfall or drift snow) lies on an old snow cover with soft layers of angular crystals, which are susceptible to disruption.
Below around 2000 m, the remaining snow cover is often moist or wet right down to the ground.
Tendency
Weak layers in old snow remain susceptible to disruption.
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. The danger spots for this are on very steep north and east-facing slopes, especially at the transition from little to much snow. Small, very occasionally also medium-sized, spontaneous sliding snow avalanches are still possible from very steep, not yet unloaded grass mat terrain.
Snowpack
(Quarry) harsch dominates on the surface.
Above around 2400 m, bound snow (due to rainfall or drift snow) lies on an old snow cover with soft layers of angular crystals, which are susceptible to disruption.
Below around 2000 m, the remaining snow cover is often moist or wet right down to the ground.
Tendency
Weak layers in old snow remain susceptible to disruption.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Gliding snow
2200m
Danger of falling on icy snow surfaces
The avalanche danger is moderate above 2200 metres and low below. Old snow is the main problem. Slab avalanches can be triggered at high altitudes on very steep slopes in the northern exposures, especially with high additional loads. A break propagation and thus avalanches of medium size are possible in wind-protected hollows. Otherwise, avalanches usually remain small and the risk of falling must be taken into account.
Individual sliding snow avalanches can spontaneously slide down extremely steep slopes with smooth ground that have not yet been discharged. These are usually small.
Snowpack
The snow cover is hardened and icy in open areas up to high altitudes. Above approx. 2400 m, the snow cover becomes thinner and is no longer stable everywhere on the shaded side. Below the snow cover, the snow has an angular structure; in places, a layer of surface frost that is susceptible to disruption remains in the upper half metre of snow. The snow cover softens during the course of the day, especially on the sunny side and at lower altitudes. There are still occasional sliding movements on smooth ground. On the south side, the ground is increasingly pitting in the middle layers.
Tendency
The old snow problem is only slowly being alleviated.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Gliding snow
2400m
Main dangers: persistent weak layer and gliding snow
Slab avalanches can be triggered in places by large additional loading. Caution urged on high-altitude, very steep shady slopes. In addition, older snowdrift accumulations are in isolated cases still prone to triggering on steep shady slopes, in isolated cases triggerable by winter sports enthusiasts, but generally small-sized As a result of daytime rise in temperatures, mostly small wet loose-snow avalanches are possible. Glide-snow avalanches continue to slide away naturally on steep smooth-ground slopes.
Snowpack
Up to high altitudes, the snowpack has been weakened by rain impact. Nocturnal outgoing radiation effects are dampened somewhat by high-altitude cloudbanks, the snowpack can thus consolidate only at superficial levels. During the course of the day the snowpack softens up particularly on sunny slopes and at low altitudes, and the danger of wet-snow avalanches again increases somewhat. Older snowdrift accumulations have been generatedf atop an unfavorable old snowpack surface, particularly at high altitudes on shady slopes. Also at high altitudes, mostly on shady slopes, faceted intermediate layers occur inside the snowpack.
Tendency
Due to persistent weak layer problem, avalanche situation improving only gradually
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 will allow small avalanches of wet snow to break spontaneously on steep slopes during the day. The likelihood of triggering will decrease rapidly in the evening.
In arid areas above the tree line, weak layers are present in the snow cover. In a few places, a small to medium sized sheet avalanche may be triggered under higher loads.
Snowpack
dp.4: cold following warm / warm following cold
In sunny weather, the crust strengthens at low altitudes and softens during the day. In 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, the snow will remain mostly dry, where weak layers may be present in the snow cover.
Tendency
Friday will see a slight warming at high altitudes, continuing dry weather with some clouds. During the day, the snow cover will become more pronounced and less stable at low elevations.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Gliding snow
Gliding snow and wet loose-snow slides during daytime hours
As a result of daytime warming, mostly small-sized wet loose-snow avalanches are possible. Glide-snow avalanches continue to glide away naturally on steep, smooth slopes. Due to the shallow snow depths, avalanches remain predominantly small-sized.
Snowpack
Up to high altitudes the snowpack has been weakened by rain impact. The nocturnal outgoing radiation is slightly dampened due to high-altitude cloudbanks, thus, the snowpack can consolidate only at superficial levels. During the course of the day, it softens up and the danger of wet-snow avalanches again increases somewhat.
Tendency
Little change is expected, 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. The snow surface is usually hardened. 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.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Gliding snow
2200m
Very compact, icy snow cover
The avalanche risk is low. Sliding snow can still be problematic on extremely steep, smooth meadow slopes. Avalanches remain small.
Snowpack
On the shaded side, the snow is compact, hardened and sometimes icy right up to the higher altitudes. The remaining snow cover becomes superficially soft during the day, especially when exposed to sunlight. The base of the snowpack is often wet. At the highest elevations, isolated layers of angular crystals have been preserved underneath the snow cover. The snowpack is thin overall. The middle layers are increasingly thinning out on the sunny side.
