Low-volume drift snow and rare avalanche prone locations in old snow
The avalanche danger is low. In shady slopes at high altitudes from around 2600 m, fresh packs of prone-to-triggering drift snow have formed. Small and near-surface avalanches in particular can easily be triggered there in a few places, especially in extremely steep gullies and bowls and behind ridgelines. In these areas, there are still isolated trigger points for small avalanches in the old snow.
Snowpack
The snow cover, snowpack is moist or even wet due to heat and rain up to medium to high altitudes. There are crusts on the surface and inside the snow cover, snowpack. In their vicinity, angular crystals can still be found at shady slopes, which can occasionally serve as a weak layer. The snow depth is well below average at all altitudes.
Tendency
The avalanche danger remains low.
Danger level
Risk of falling on hard frozen snow surfaces.
The avalanche risk is low. Above 2200 m, old snow can occasionally be problematic. With large additional loads, small slab avalanches can be triggered on extremely steep slopes in northern aspects.
Snowpack
The snow surface has hardened in the morning. It softens quickly on sunny slopes during the day, but remains hard and icy on the shady slopes. Only above 2200 m on the shady slopes in the upper half metre of the snow cover, snowpack can still be found in very isolated weak layers. The base of the snowpack is wet in places. There is very little snow, on the south side the ground is snowed out far up.
Tendency
The avalanche danger remains low.
Danger level
Injury from stones and falling are the main dangers.
The avalanche danger is low. In shady slopes, fresh drift snow packs can be triggered in places by individuals, avalanches usually remain small. In areas adjacent to the ridgeline, crest or summit, there are isolated trigger points for mainly small avalanches that are difficult to disturb, even in old snow.
Snowpack
The snow depth is well below average for the time of year, low to medium altitudes and the sunny slopes are widely covered in snow. The snow cover, snowpack will be soaked far up during the daytime changes. In shady slopes, weak layers of angular crystals still remain in the snow cover, snowpack, mostly in the vicinity of crusts.
Tendency
The avalanche danger remains low.
Danger level
Not much snow. Low avalanche danger.
Low avalanche danger prevails. Isolated small-sized glide-snow avalanches are possible on steep smooth slopes which have not yet discharged. Glide cracks are signals of potential imminent danger. As a result of frequently strong-velocity southerly winds, small-sized snowdrift accumulations have been generated at high altitudes. The risks of falling and sustaining injuries outweigh those of being buried in snow masses.
Snowpack
There is little snow on the ground. South-facing slopes are bare of snow up to high altitudes. During the nocturnal hours, a breakable-to-capable-of-bearing-loads crust can form. During the daytime it then softens, particularly on sunny slopes and at low altitudes. Since there is little transportable snow, only small local snowdrifts were generated by the strong southerly winds.
Tendency
Avalanche danger not expected to change significantly
Danger level
Lack of snow and stones are the main dangers.
The avalanche danger is low. There is usually not enough snow for snow sports and avalanches can hardly be triggered.
Snowpack
There is no closed snow cover, snowpack and the terrain is mostly bare.
Tendency
The avalanche danger remains low.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
The danger of Avalanche is low.
The snowpack is mostly stable. In arid areas above the forest line, weak layers may be present in the snowpack. In a few places in the high alpine regions, a small, clustered Avalanche may be triggered under higher loads. Some creeping of dry, untracked new snow is possible.
Snowpack
dp.4: cold following warm / warm following cold
Snowpack is mostly stable, with significant snowmelt on sunny slopes. On the sunny slopes, the old snow base is hard in many places. In the osoles, weak layers may be present in the Old snowpack. Up to 10 cm of new fallen snow has fallen on the old snow base, with the snowfall level around 1800 m above altitudes.
Tendency
Friday will see more clarity in the mountains, with a weak to moderate westerly wind that will weaken during the day. Temperatures will be 4 °C at 1500 m and -1 °C at 2500 m.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Isolated avalanche prone locations in persistent weak layer of old snow. Isolated glide-snow avalanches.
Avalanches can in isolated cases be triggered from persistent weak layers on very steep shady slopes. These releases are mostly small-sized. The risks of falling and sustaining injuries outweigh those of being buried in snow masses. From place to place, freshly generated snowdrifts are trigger sensitive and require attentiveness. Isolated, generally small-sized glide-snow avalanches are still possible on steep, smooth slopes which have not yet discharged.
Snowpack
The shallow snowpack is generally well consolidated, low in tensions. On shady slopes in high alpine regions, isolated weak layers are still evident inside the snowpck. Due to intermittently strong-velocity foehn winds, the loosely-packed old snow was transported from place to place and small drifts were freshly generated. Little information from outlying terrain is currently available to the Avalanche Warning Service.
Tendency
Avalanche danger not expected to change significantly
