The avalanche risk is SIGNIFICANT above 2300 metres, and MASSIVE below that.
New fallen snow and wind form a fresh slab. Small snow slabs can be triggered in some places by individual winter sports enthusiasts and reach medium size when tearing through the weak persistent weak layer. The weak old snowpack can also still be disturbed.
Avalanche prone locations increase rapidly from the tree line upwards. They are more frequent from west to north to east, in high alpine areas also in the southern sector and generally next to blown-off areas. Drift snow areas should be avoided. Whumpfing collapsing sounds when stepping on the snowpack can indicate danger.
Snowpack
10 cm to 20 cm of snow falls on a locally very varied snow surface under the influence of wind. There are areas with little snow next to considerable snowdrift accumulations. In places, these have been transformed and are soft, in places hard as a board. At the transition to the old snowpack, there are faceted crystals on and under the crust, which can serve as a reactive weak layer. Fractures in the persistent weak layer usually occur here. Deeper in the old snowpack there is a sequence of faceted crystals, crusts and a lot of deep rime. The total snow depth is well below average.
Tendency
The avalanche danger is slowly decreasing.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Wind slab
Treeline
The current snowpack pattern is uncommon and requires special attention and caution!
New fallen snow will hide old traps and the danger of avalanches is increasing.
Even a small additional load can trigger a medium-sized avalanche near ridges and other typical leeward locations with blowing snow. Chain avalanches are also possible, where the triggering of a small clast of freshly blown snow causes the collapse of old Weak layers in the snowpack!
In some places, the additional load (blowing snow) will naturally trigger cluster avalanches.
Snowpack
dp.1: deep persistent weak layer dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold
Snow is scarce and local conditions are quite variable. A crust has formed on the surface in some places, which in many places also bears the weight of sand. In the osoles, the snowpack is mostly dry, compacted and hard on the surface, and completely cut at depth. Ridges and peaks are in many places blown down to a crusted or icy base. Particularly near the ridges, areas of blown snow have formed, under which the snowpack is thinned.
Snow has been falling on such a surface above about 1000 m since Friday evening with a strong SW wind. New fallen snow will hide the old snowpack and will have little connection with it. New snowdrift accumulations are forming, which naturally put additional stress on the old snow cover, which has deep, persistent weak layers.
Tendency
Rainfall will continue into the night on Monday, easing on Monday morning. Up to 20 cm of snow may still fall. Clouds will break, clearing in the middle of the day. Winds will weaken. Tuesday will be mostly sunny. The danger of avalanches will remain significant.
Danger level
1900m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1900m
Skiable terrain is still prone to triggering. Wind slab snow lies on weak old snowpack.
The avalanche risk is moderate above 1900 metres and low below. Slab avalanches can be triggered in some places by low additional loads and can reach medium size. Both fresh and older drift snowpacks as well as the weakly built-up old snowpack can be disturbed, fractures can tear through. Avalanche prone locations increase rapidly from the tree line upwards. They are concentrated from west to north to east, in some places in the southern sector in the high Alps, and generally next to blown-off areas. Drift snow areas should be avoided. Whumpfing collapsing sounds when stepping on the snowpack can indicate danger. The avalanche prone locations are difficult to recognise.
Snowpack
Around 10 cm of snow falls on a locally very varied snow surface. There are areas with little snow next to considerable snowdrift accumulations. In places, these have been transformed and are soft, in places hard as a board. At the transition to the old snowpack, there are faceted crystals on and under the crust, which can serve as a reactive weak layer. Fractures in the persistent weak layer usually occur here. Deeper in the old snowpack there is a sequence of faceted crystals, crusts and a lot of deep rime. The total snow depth is well below average.
Tendency
No significant change in avalanche danger.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Wind slab
Treeline
New fallen snow will hide old traps and the danger of avalanches is increasing.
Even a small additional load can trigger a small avalanche near ridges and other typical leeward areas with blowing snow. Chain avalanche triggering is also possible, where the triggering of a small clast of freshly blown snow causes the collapse of old weak layers in the snowpack!
In particular, in some places, the additional load (blowing snow) will naturally trigger cluster avalanches.
Snowpack
dp.1: deep persistent weak layer dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold
Snow is scarce and local conditions are quite variable. A crust has formed on the surface in some places, which in many places also bears the weight of sand. In the osoles, the snowpack is mostly dry, compacted and hard on the surface, and completely cut at depth. Ridges and peaks are in many places blown down to a crusted or icy base. Particularly near the ridges, areas of blown snow have formed, under which the snowpack is thinned.
On such a surface above about 1000 m it has been snowing lightly since Friday evening with an increasing SW wind. New fallen snow will hide the old snow cover and will have little connection with it. New snowdrift accumulations are forming, which naturally put additional stress on the old snow cover, which has deep, persistent weak layers.
Tendency
Rainfall will continue into the night on Monday, easing on Monday morning. Up to 20 cm of snow may still fall. Clouds will break, clearing in the middle of the day. Winds will weaken. Tuesday will be mostly sunny. The danger of avalanches will remain significant.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Weak old snowpack with little snow.
The avalanche risk is moderate in the northern sector above 2000 metres and low below that. In skiable terrain next to blown-off areas, small to medium slab avalanches can be triggered in some places by low additional loads. In the higher elevations, wind slabs are prone to triggering and avalanches triggered on the surface can tear through the persistent weak layer. Whumpfing collapsing sounds when stepping on the snowpack can indicate danger.
Snowpack
From midday, 5 cm to 10 cm of snow will fall on a locally very variable snow surface. Areas with little snow are located next to snowdrift accumulations. In places, these have been transformed and are soft and in places hard as a board. Where there is an old snowpack, there are faceted crystals on and under the crust at the transition to it, which can serve as a weak layer. Fractures in the persistent weak layer usually occur here. Deeper in the old snowpack there is a sequence of faceted crystals, crusts and a lot of deep rime. The total snow depth is well below average.
Tendency
No significant change in avalanche danger.
Danger level
1200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1200m
Even a small additional load can trigger a small avalanche, especially in typical leeward areas with freshly blown snow.
Snowpack
dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold
20-30 cm of New fallen snow will fall on bare ground above 1200 m by Saturday evening. Snowdrift accumulations are forming due to the strengthening SW wind.
Tendency
Rainfall will continue into the night on Monday, easing on Monday morning. Up to 20 cm of snow may still fall. Clouds will break, clearing in the middle of the day. Winds will weaken. Tuesday will be mostly sunny.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Snow cover tests still indicate poor stability in some areas.
The avalanche risk is moderate above 1800 metres and low below that. The main problem is a persistent weak layer. Dry slab avalanches can still be triggered occasionally by slight additional loads on very steep slopes. Avalanche prone locations are found at the transition from little to much snow, for example at the entrance to gullies and bowls. Slab avalanches can reach medium size on snowy eastern and northern slopes at higher altitudes.
Snowpack
At higher altitudes, bonded snow lies on built-up layers, often in the area of surface crusts. These layers are still prone to triggering in places. The base of the snowpack consists mainly of faceted crystals. The snow surfaces are very varied, sometimes crust can be formed by wind or heat, often dominated by thin breakable crust. At the highest elevations, the snow is partly soft on shady slopes. There is little snow on the south side.
Tendency
The avalanche danger is slowly decreasing.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Main danger: weak old snowpack layers. Fresh snowdrifts also require caution.
It is possible to trigger slab avalanches in the old snow particularly by large additional loading. If a release sweeps away the entire snowpack the avalanche 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 surface are alarm signals. Activities in outlying terrain away from secured ski runs require experience in evaluating the terrain and assessment of avalanche dangers. In addition, 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 moderately bonded to each other. In addition, older snowdrift accumulations on shady high-altitude slopes can be prone to triggering in places. Small, fresh drifted masses occur in ridgeline and pass areas. More than anything else: where fresh snow and drifts are deposited on top of surface hoar, bonding of snow is poor.
Tendency
At high altitudes, the unfavorably structured snowpack is the main danger. Depending on fresh snow and wind, avalanche danger may increase slightly on Monday.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Persistent weak layer problem - few avalanche prone locations but poor stability!
The avalanche risk has hardly changed and remains moderate in some areas above the tree line. There are still avalanche prone locations adjacent to ridgelines, at terrain transitions and in bowls and gullies in the steep terrain, especially in the high-altitude northern and eastern sectors. Triggering of slab avalanches is possible in some places even under slight additional load. Small-scale avalanches, mainly caused by the recent southerly winds at higher altitudes, should be avoided.
Snowpack
The snowpack is weakened by faceted crystals and/or floating snow, especially at higher altitudes. This means that slab avalanches can easily be triggered here. Depending on the aspect and hardness, the snowpack varies in hardness on the surface, sometimes icy. Mostly at higher altitudes, there may still be small-scale, disruptive drifts. In general, there is little snow and it is distributed very differently. In addition to completely blown away areas, there are also well-filled areas.
Tendency
Still no significant change.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Fresh wind slab in the northern sector!
The avalanche danger is rated as moderate above the tree line and low below. The main problem is wind slab. The avalanche prone locations are in the terrain adjacent to ridgelines and in the entrance areas of gullies and bowls. The northern sector is particularly affected. Triggering of a snow slab is possible with a small additional load. The slab can slide to the bottom, so medium avalanches cannot be ruled out.
Snowpack
On Sunday, 10 to 25 cm of new snow will fall with wind on a crust can form and hardness with partial surface hoar. The connection between the fresh wind slab and the old snowpack will not be sufficient. The snow base, fundamentally set and compact. In extremely steep gullies on shady slopes, the snow base, fundament is partly weakened by angular shapes.
Tendency
On Monday morning, residual clouds and the last showers, increasingly sunny during the day. Sunny weather on Tuesday under the influence of intermediate highs. No significant change in the avalanche danger is expected.
Danger level
1900m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1900m
Some new fallen snow covers stones and avalanche prone locations.
The avalanche risk is moderate above 1900 metres and low below. In skiable terrain, small to medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered in a few places, especially in the northern sector, by low additional loads. Avalanche prone locations increase rapidly from the tree line upwards, at higher altitudes increasingly also in eastern aspects. Whumpfing collapsing sounds when stepping on the snowpack can indicate danger.
Snowpack
Around 10 cm of snow falls on a locally very varied snow surface. There are areas with little snow next to snowdrift accumulations. In places, these have been transformed to build up and are soft, in places hard as a board. Where an old snowpack is present, there are faceted crystals on and under the crust at the transition to it, which can serve as a reactive weak layer. Fractures in the persistent weak layer usually occur here. Deeper in the old snowpack there is a sequence of faceted crystals, crusts and a lot of deep rime. The total snow depth is well below average.
Tendency
No significant change in avalanche danger.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Persistent weak layer problem in northern and eastern aspects!
The avalanche risk is assessed as moderate above 1,800 metres and low below that. Slab avalanches can be triggered in some places even with little additional load and can reach medium size when breaking through the persistent weak layer. The danger areas are still located in the north to east aspects behind ridgelines and terrain edges as well as in the entrance areas to steep gullies and bowls.
Snowpack
Some new or drift snow covers surface hoar and, at higher altitudes, older drift snow in the northern and eastern exposures on an unstable snowpack with weak layers of faceted crystals and floating snow. The connection between the wind slab and the old snowpack will not be sufficient. On the sunny slopes, the old snowpack is mostly settled and quite compact.
Tendency
On Monday morning, residual clouds and the last showers, increasingly sunny during the day. Sunny weather on Tuesday under the influence of intermediate highs. No significant change in the avalanche danger is expected.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Danger of falling!
The avalanche risk is low. Smaller avalanches can be triggered in persistent weak layers, especially with large additional loads. The few avalanche prone locations are found on extremely steep slopes in the northern and eastern aspects, especially when entering gullies and bowls.
Snowpack
Up to high altitudes, the snowpack has crusted can form on the surface. At higher altitudes, bonded snow lies on angular snow layers in places. However, no major crack propagation is to be expected. The often hard-frozen snowpack hardly softens during the daytime changes. Large areas will be bare again, especially on sunny slopes. Overall, there is little snow and ground contact is to be expected everywhere.
Tendency
The avalanche danger remains low.
Danger level
Hardly any snow and low avalanche danger.
The avalanche risk is low. The risk of stones and slipping on icy surfaces is higher than the risk of burial.
Snowpack
A small amount of snow falls on apery ground or a hard to icy melt-freeze crust. Edged persistent weak layer weakens the snow base, fundament if present.
Tendency
No significant change in avalanche danger.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Predominantly low avalanche danger
Avalanche danger is low. Isolated avalanche prone locations occur on extremely steep, predominantly shady slopes. Small-sized avalanches can in isolated cases be triggered. Danger zones occur most often in transition zones from shallow to deep snow, for example, at entry points into gullies and bowls. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the danger of being swept along and forced to take a fall also require caution.
Snowpack
The old snowpack is predominantly well consolidated. On shady slopes, weak layers in the old snow still persist in places. The snowpack surface is melt-freeze encrusted in early morning and hardly softens up during daytime hours. Overall there is little snow on the ground. Often surface hoar on shady slopes.
Tendency
Avalanche danger levels are not immediately expected to change significantly.
Danger level
Low avalanche danger with little snow. Beware of the risk of falling!
The avalanche risk is low. With below-average snow conditions, there are only a few avalanche prone locations, which are limited to the extremely steep slopes of the northern exposures. At higher altitudes, the snowpack is often hard and icy due to the wind and melting. Avalanche prone locations and icy areas may be covered by a thin layer of fresh snow or thin pillows of wind drifted snow on Sunday. Beware of the risk of falling in sometimes poor visibility!
Snowpack
The snowpack is well below average for the time of year. In sunny slopes, it is mostly bare beyond the tree line. On shady slopes, the thin snow surface is crusted can form and hard, sometimes icy. At higher altitudes it is mostly blown off, only in wind-protected areas is there a little more snow. In extremely steep gullies on shady slopes, angular shapes can weaken the snow base, fundament. Above this, however, there is usually only a little snow. Thin pillows of wind drifted snow form above 1500 metres due to new fallen snow and wind.
Tendency
The avalanche danger remains the same.
During the night to Monday, the precipitation will decrease rapidly and the wind will weaken considerably. Monday will be mostly cloudy and free of precipitation. On Tuesday, sunny weather will prevail again. Slightly cooler than recently with temperatures at 1500 metres around -3 degrees.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Low avalanche danger, isolated avalanche prone locations on shady slopes!
The avalanche risk is low. In extremely steep gullies and on shady slopes above the tree line, the triggering of small slab avalanches cannot be completely ruled out. Avalanche prone locations may be difficult to recognise due to poor visibility and a thin covering of soft new fallen snow.
Snowpack
Some new fallen snow is deposited on a crusted can form. Angular shapes weaken the snow layering. Some grassy slopes are snowed in again.
Tendency
On Monday morning, residual clouds and the last showers, increasingly sunny during the day. Sunny weather on Tuesday under the influence of intermediate highs. No significant change in the avalanche danger is expected.
