Main danger: weak old snowpack layers. Fresh snowdrifts require caution.
Particularly in high-altitude ridgeline and pass areas, as well as behind drops in the terrain, fresh snowdrift accumulations are easy to trigger. 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.
Snowpack
There has been 5-10cm of fresh snow, locally up to 15cm, registered widespread. Particularly in ridgeline and pass areas, fresh, usually small drifted masses occur. Especially where fresh snow and drifts are deposited on top of surface hoar or on loosely-packed old snowpack layers, the bonding is poor. The old snowpack is overall unfavorably structured. Intermediate layers inside the snow cover continue to be only moderately bonded to each other.
Tendency
At high altitudes, the unfavorably structured snowpack is the main danger. Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations remain prone to triggering.
Fresh snowdrift accumulations in ridgeline terrain and behind protruberances in the landscape can easily be disturbed. Other isolated danger zones are located in extremely steep, predominantly shady terrain. In isolated cases, small avalanches can be triggered in these places in the old snow. Such danger zones are located particularly in transitions 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
About 5-10cm of fresh snow will be deposited on top of a generally well consolidated, predominantly melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack surface. In some places, surface hoar will be blanketed by the fresh snowfall. At higher altitudes, small-sized freshly generated snowdrift accumulations occur. Particularly on steep shady slopes, weak layers in the old snow still persist in places. Overall there is little snow on the ground.
Tendency
Avalanche danger levels are not immediately expected to change significantly.
