High-lying local avalanche prone locations due to prone to triggering wind slab!
Due to strong to sometimes stormy winds from the northwest and recently some new fallen snow, snowdrift accumulations have formed in the higher elevations. In steep terrain, in areas adjacent to the ridgeline, as well as in bowls and gullies, the triggering of small to rarely medium slab avalanches is possible even with a small additional load. The usually easily recognisable avalanche prone locations should be avoided. Be aware of the risk of falling on the hard old snowpack.
Snowpack
On Tuesday there was around 10 cm of new fallen snow with strong winds from the north-west. Where the fresh snowdrift accumulations lie on a hardness of old snowpack, the bonding is not sufficient. The thin old snowpack contains faceted crystals that have been transformed by building up. Surface hoar would be covered. The snow depths are very below average, even at high altitudes. Below this, the new fallen snow came to rest on bare ground.
Tendency
No significant change in the snow and avalanche situation. There will be some new fallen snow and strong winds in the night to Thursday.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
Persistent weak layer
2600m
Prone to triggering fresh wind slab.
The avalanche danger is moderate above 2200 metres and low below. Since yesterday, storms from the northwest have deposited fresh wind slab snow on an unfavourably built-up old snow surface. Small avalanches in particular can be triggered by individual people in some places from around 2200 metres. Be especially careful in terrain traps, areas adjacent to the ridgeline, crest or summit and in gullies and bowls.
Snowpack
The snow cover, snowpack is highly variable. In high, shady slopes, there is usually edged snow without binding under the wind slab and the melt-freeze crust. The fracture propagation potential is generally low due to the overall highly structured snow cover, snowpack. Fractures are most possible in fresh wind slab snow, above the hard old snow foundation from early winter, or very rarely in the vicinity of crusts. The snow depth is well below average at all altitudes.
Tendency
The avalanche danger will remain moderate at high altitudes on Thursday.
Danger level
1900m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1900m
Beware of fresh wind slab
There is a moderate avalanche risk above 1900 metres. With new fallen snow and stormy north-westerly winds, prone-to-triggering snowdrift accumulations have formed. Especially behind broad ridges and ridgelines as well as in gullies and bowls, these can be triggered by individuals, usually as small slab avalanches. The avalanche prone locations are easily recognisable if visibility is good. Often, some of the snow has covered over the empty areas, so beware of the risk of injury.
Snowpack
Up to 15 cm of new fallen snow fell on a crust can form on an old snowpack in some places with strong winds. In many places, fresh snowdrift accumulations cover soft layers in the transition to the old snow surface. The connection between wind slab and persistent weak layer is poor. On the shady slopes, weak layers of faceted crystals can be found in the old snow foundation. The composition and thickness of the snow cover, snowpack varies greatly in a small area. There is often insufficient old snowpack.
Tendency
On the evening of the 31st and on New Year's Eve, some new fallen snow falls in the congested areas. On New Year's Day, the weather calms down slightly and it becomes a little milder in all areas. Fresh wind slab remains the main problem.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Up to 30 cm of new fallen snow locally - avoid fresh snowdrift accumulations
The avalanche risk is moderate above the tree line and low below it. In the steep terrain adjacent to the ridgeline in northern, eastern and southern aspects as well as in gullies and bowls, fresh snowdrift accumulations can be triggered as small to medium slab avalanches by a small additional load. In addition to the risk of burial, the risk of being swept away and falling must be taken into account.
Snowpack
The new fallen snow lies on a melt-freeze crust or, on the sunny side, up to high altitudes on the ground that has already been covered with snow. In places, the connection to the melt-freeze crust is poor due to embedded surface hoar. Intermediate layers prone to triggering may be present within fresh snowdrift accumulations. At higher and higher altitudes, faceted crystals can be found below the old melt-freeze crust down to the ground.
Tendency
No significant change for the time being.
Danger level
Watch out locally for small snowdrift accumulations.
The avalanche danger is low. Since yesterday, up to 15 cm of new fallen snow has been transported by north-westerly winds onto mostly bare ground. The risk of burial outweighs the risk of injury from stones underneath.
Snowpack
A few centimetres of new or wind-slab snow lie on the bare ground, in blown-in areas even a little more.
Tendency
The avalanche risk increases slightly with further new fallen snow and wind, but remains low on Thursday.
Danger level
Very little new fallen snow
The avalanche danger is low. Avalanches are hardly to be expected.
Snowpack
A few centimetres of new fallen snow lie on an often load-bearing melt-freeze crust or, on sunny slopes, up to high altitudes on the ground that has already been covered with snow. On shady slopes, the old melt-freeze crust is sometimes not load-bearing. At higher and higher altitudes, faceted crystals can often be found below the melt-freeze crust right down to the ground.
Tendency
Low avalanche danger over the turn of the year.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Wind slab
Treeline
The danger of Avalanche is low. Be careful in fresh Snowdrift accumulations!
The snowpack is mostly stable. In some places in the high alpine regions, especially on fresh drifts of blown snow, a small, clustered avalanche can be triggered under higher loads.
Snowpack
dp.4: cold following warm / warm following cold
There is little snow, and the peaks and ridges are in some places blown bare. During the last deterioration, about 10 cm of New fallen snow fell, on Sunny slope below 2000 m on terrestrial ground.
In the high alpine regions, weak layers may be present in the old snow cover.
On prominent ones, the snow has already been frozen off and then frozen over, forming a drift.
Tendency
Thursday will be mostly sunny with some transparent high clouds. SW winds will pick up in the evening, but it will remain cool.
Friday will be cloudy. The weekend will be cloudy and foggy, windy and snowy.
Danger level
Isolated avalanche prone locations occur in persistent weak layer of old snow.
In isolated cases avalanches can be triggered in persistent weak layers on very steep shady slopes in high alpine regions. These releases are mostly small-sized. The risks of falling and sustaining injuries outweigh those of being buried in snow masses. At very high altitudes in ridgeline terrain, gullies and bowls, freshly generated but usually small-sized snowdrift accumulations require attentiveness.
Snowpack
The old snowpack surface is generally melt-freeze encrusted, in some places it is iced over. It then softens up slightly on sunny slopes during the daytime hours. On shady slopes there are usually faceted, expansively metamorphosed crystals beneath the melt-freeze crust. At high altitudes, small-sized snowdrifts have been generated over small areas. On shady slopes in high alpine regions, isolated weak layers occur inside the snowpack. Surface hoar also frequently occurs. South-facing slopes are bare of snow up to high altitudes. Only limited information is currently available to the Avalanche Warning Services from outlying terrain.
Tendency
Avalanche danger expected to remain low
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
Fresh wind slab prone to triggering.
The avalanche danger is low. With new fallen snow and a stormy wind from the northwest, fresh prone-to-triggering snow packs have been forming since yesterday, which can be triggered by individuals in a few places from around 2200 metres. Enough snow could accumulate in isolated terrain traps to bury people. Take care behind exposed ridges and ridgelines, in gullies and bowls. In shady slopes at high altitudes, there are still very few trigger points in persistent weak layers that are difficult to disturb. The risk of injury from stones is not easily recognisable everywhere.
Snowpack
Fresh wind slab snow has been deposited on the highly variable and crusted old snowpack since yesterday, more in the north-east than in the south-west. At high altitudes, the connection to the transformed old snow surface is rather poor. In shady slopes at high altitudes, weak layers of faceted crystals have been preserved in the snow cover, mostly in the vicinity of crusts. Due to the overall heavily transformed snow cover, the fracture propagation potential in the persistent weak layer is generally low.
Tendency
The avalanche danger remains low on Thursday.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Avoid small, fresh snowdrift accumulations in the steep terrain adjacent to the ridgeline
The avalanche risk is low. In the steep terrain adjacent to the ridgeline in northern and eastern aspects, small, fresh snowdrift accumulations can be triggered locally as a small snow slab by a small additional load. Be aware of the risk of being swept away and falling.
Snowpack
There is little new fallen snow on a melt-freeze crust, which is often stable, or up to high altitudes on sunny slopes on ground that has already been covered with snow. On shady slopes, the old melt-freeze crust is sometimes not stable. In some places, small, fresh snowdrift accumulations lie prone to triggering on surface hoar. At higher altitudes, faceted crystals can often be found below the melt-freeze crust right down to the ground.
Tendency
Low avalanche danger over the turn of the year.
Danger level
1900m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1900m
Beware of prone to triggering snow packs
The avalanche risk is generally low. Stormy north-westerly winds and some new fallen snow have created isolated fresh snowdrift accumulations at higher altitudes, which can be triggered as small slab avalanches by even a small additional load. This is particularly the case behind exposed ridges and ridgelines as well as in gullies and bowls. The avalanche prone locations are generally easy to recognise. In most cases, the risk of entrainment and injury outweighs the risk of burial.
Snowpack
Fresh wind slab was deposited on a crust can form and often inhomogeneous old snowpack under the influence of strong winds. In many places, a built-up transformed surface or surface hoar is covered. The connection between the drift snow layer and the persistent weak layer is poor. The nature and thickness of the snow cover, snowpack varies greatly in a small area. There is often insufficient old snowpack.
Tendency
On the evening of the 31st and on New Year's Eve, some new fallen snow will fall in the northern congestion areas. On New Year's Day, it will be a touch milder with less wind at all altitudes. Areas prone to triggering drifting snow will remain the main problem for the time being.
Danger level
Not much snow. Low avalanche danger.
Avalanches can in isolated cases be triggered in extremely steep terrain. These releases are mostly small-sized. The risks of falling and sustaining injuries outweigh those of being buried in snow masses.
Snowpack
The old snowpack surface is generally melt-freeze encrusted, in most places it is hardened. It then softens up slightly on sunny slopes during the daytime hours. South-facing slopes are bare of snow up to high altitudes, only in sparse places is there snow on the ground. Only limited information is currently available to the Avalanche Warning Services from outlying terrain.
Tendency
No significant change anticipated. Low avalanche danger will continue.
Danger level
Rare release points and risk of injury from stones.
The avalanche risk is low, but injury from stones and falling remain the main dangers. In gullies and bowls adjacent to the ridgeline, crests or summits in shady slopes, there are very occasional trigger points in persistent weak layers that are difficult to disturb. Only very rarely can fresh drift snow packs be triggered by individuals. Avalanches remain small.
Snowpack
There is a below-average amount of snow and the snow cover, snowpack is highly variable in the interior. In shady slopes at high altitudes, weak layers of faceted crystals are occasionally preserved in the snow cover, mostly in the vicinity of crusts. The fracture propagation potential is generally low due to the overall highly structured snow cover, snowpack.
Tendency
The avalanche danger remains low on Thursday.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Wind slab
Treeline
The danger of Avalanche is low. Be careful in fresh snowdrift accumulations!
Snowpack is mostly stable. In some places in the High alpine regions, especially on fresh snowdrift accumulations of blown snow, a small, clustered avalanche can be triggered under higher loads.
Snowpack
dp.4: cold following warm / warm following cold
There is little snow, and the peaks and ridges are in some places blown bare. During the last deterioration, about 10 cm of New fallen snow fell, on Sunny slope below 2000 m on terrestrial ground.
In the high alpine regions, weak layers may be present in the old snow cover.
On prominent ones, the snow has already been frozen off and then frozen over, forming a drift.
Tendency
Thursday will be mostly sunny with some transparent high clouds. In the afternoon, low clouds will thicken on the coastal side of the Alps and lift towards the Ridge. SW winds will pick up in the evening, but it will remain cool.
Friday will be cloudy, with occasional showers.
The weekend will be cloudy and foggy, windy and snowy.
