Weak old snow and fresh snowdrifts prone to triggering
Fresh fallen snow and freshly generated snowdrifts are poorly bonded with the weak old snowpack. One single person can trigger slab avalanches in the drifts and old snow. If the fracture sweeps away the entire snowpack, the release can grow to medium size. Danger zones are located in all aspects, but especially on shady slopes and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Frequency and spread of avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude. Activities in backcountry demand defensive conduct.
Snowpack
Fresh snowfall is anticipated: up to 15cm, 20cm from region to region. This and the loosely-packed old snow will be transported by the intermittently strong-to storm velocity winds. Fresh snow and drifts will be deposited frequently on top of a faceted, loosely-packed old snowpack surface or atop surface hoar and bond poorly with it. The old snowpack is unfavorably metamorphosed.
Tendency
Very cold plus strong-to-storm velocity winds and, starting on Saturday, increasingly frequent snowfall. Avalanche danger expected to increase inside the respective danger level.
Danger level
1500m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1500m
Slightly increasing avalanche danger at high altitudes
Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations and weak layers in the old snow are prone to triggering. One single winter sports enthusiast can trigger small-sized slab avalanches. Danger zones occur especially near ridgelines and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls, as well as in extremely steep terrain. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow, the danger of being swept along and forced to take a fall require caution.
Snowpack
Fresh snowfall is anticipated: up to 15cm, 20cm from region to region. This and the loosely-packed old snow will be transported by the intermittently strong-to storm velocity winds. Fresh snow and drifts will be deposited frequently on top of a faceted, loosely-packed old snowpack surface or atop surface hoar and bond poorly with it. The old snowpack is unfavorably metamorphosed.
Tendency
Very cold plus strong-to-storm velocity winds and, starting on Saturday, increasingly frequent snowfall. Avalanche danger expected to increase further.
