One single winter sports enthusiast can trigger slab avalanches. If they sweep away the entire snowpack they can grow to medium size. Danger zones are located especially on steep shady slopes, but also in wind-loaded gullies and bowls in all aspects. Whumpf noises and fractures on the snowpack surface are alarm signals. Activities in backcountry away from secured ski runs require experience in evaluating the terrain and assessing avalanche dangers. In addition, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations require caution particularly in ridgeline and pass areas.
Snowpack
The old snowpack is overall unfavorably structured. Intermediate layers inside the snow cover are still only moderate-to-weakly bonded to each other in many places. In addition, older snowdrift accumulations are still often prone to triggering on shady high-altitude slopes.
Tendency
Avalanche danger will recede only gradually. At high altitudes, weak layers continue to be prone to triggering.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Beware: the snowpack is still prone to triggering at high altitudes
A single winter sports enthusiast can trigger slab avalanches in the old snow. If a release sweeps away the entire snowpack the avalanche can grow to medium size. Danger zones are located expecially on steep shady slopes, but also in wind-loaded gullies and bowls in all aspects. Whumpf noises and fractures on the surface are alarm signals. Also remote triggerings continue to be possible. Activities in outlying terrain away from secured ski runs require experience in evaluating the terrain and assessment of avalanche dangers. In addition, as a result of foehn-wind impact, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations have been generated particularly in ridgline and pass areas.
Snowpack
The old snowpack is overall unfavorably structured. Intermediate layers inside the snow cover continue to be only moderate-to-weakly bonded together. Settling noises, fractures in the surface and avalanche releases continue to confirm the ongoing proneness to triggering of the snowpack. In addition, older snowdrift accumulations on shady high-altitude slopes can be prone to triggering in places.
Tendency
Avalanche danger will recede only gradually. At high altitudes, weak layers inside the snowpack continue to be prone to triggering.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Moderate avalanche danger at higher altitudes
Older drifts from last week and unfavorably structured intermediate layers inside the snowpack are still prone to triggering in places at high altitudes. Winter sports enthusiasts can trigger small, in isolated cases medium-sized avalanches in wind-loaded zones, particularly on steep W-N-E facing slopes and in transitions from shallow to deep snow, for example at the entry into gullies and bowls.
Snowpack
Bonding of the most recent fresh snow and drifts to the often faceted, expansively metamorphosed old snowpack surface and to unfavorably structured layers inside the snowpack is often only moderate. Due to higher temperatures the snow at low and intermediate altitudes is moist and the snowpack surface melt-freeze encrusted in early morning. At low altitudes there is little snow on the ground.
Tendency
Avalanche danger will recede only gradually.
Danger level
Isolated avalanche prone locations on steep shady slopes
Avalanche danger is low. Isolated danger zones are located on extremely steep shady slopes. Small-sized, in isolated cases medium-sized avalanches can be triggered even by minimum additional loading. Danger zones occur mostly in transitions from shallow to deep snow, for example, at the entry point into gullies and bowls. The risks of being swept along and forced to take a fall require caution.
Snowpack
The snowpack surface is melt-freeze encrusted in early morning, then softens up during the day, particularly on sunny slopes. At low altitudes there is little snow on the ground. South-facing slopes are becoming increasingly bare of snow.
