Fresh wind slab forms snow slab on weak old snowpack
The avalanche risk increases rapidly with altitude and is considerable above around 2000 metres and low below. A soft snow surface and surface hoar are overlaid by gale-force southerly foehn winds with fresh wind slabs. Medium-sized slab avalanches can easily be triggered by individuals in some places, especially from north to east, but also in a few places in the west and south sectors. If fresh wind slabs are disturbed, there is a high likelihood of avalanches breaking through into deeper layers. The old snowpack is poorly structured across the board; if fractures are provoked, they tend to propagate. Avalanche prone locations in the persistent weak layer are barely recognisable and should be assessed defensively. Caution should be exercised in particular near transitions from a little to a lot of snow and in the blown-in entrance areas to steep gullies. Remote triggering is possible in isolated cases.
Snowpack
The snowpack is highly variable and areas with little snow alternate with considerable snowdrift accumulations. In general, fresh drift snow layers lie on top of older, often hardness drift snow packs, which are in the initial stages of kinetic metamorphism. Breaks usually occur near the crust, which forms the transition to the completely angular old snowpack. Under this crust, the old snowpack consists mainly of deep rime and angular forms, which are interspersed with other crusts in areas with more snow. On the ground, snow from early winter can sometimes be found in the form of a hard melt-freeze crust.
Tendency
The wind slab problem is slowly improving, but the persistent weak layer problem remains.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Fresh wind slab forms snow slab on weak old snowpack
The avalanche risk increases rapidly with altitude and is moderate above around 2000 metres and low below. A soft snow surface and surface hoar are overlaid by strong southerly foehn with fresh wind slabs. Medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered by individuals in some places, especially from north to east, but also in a few places in the west and south sectors. Fractures in the fresh wind slab can tear through the persistent weak layer and tend to propagate. Avalanche prone locations in the persistent weak layer are hardly recognisable and should be assessed defensively. Take particular care near transitions from a little to a lot of snow and in the blown-in entrance areas to steep gullies.
Snowpack
The snowpack is highly variable and areas with little snow alternate with considerable snowdrift accumulations. In general, there are a few centimetres of fresh wind slab snow on top of older, often hardness wind slabs, which are in the initial stages of kinetic metamorphism. Breaks usually occur near the crust, which forms the transition to the completely angular old snowpack. Under this crust, the old snowpack consists of deep rime and angular forms, which are interspersed with further crusts in areas with more snow. The overall snow depth is well below average.
Tendency
The wind slab problem is slowly improving, but the persistent weak layer problem remains.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Small drift snow accumulations on weak old snowpack
The avalanche risk is low. In the extended northern and eastern exposures above around 2200 m, small slab avalanches can still be triggered by individuals in a few places. Danger areas are located at the transition from little to more snow and generally next to blown-off areas. Some of the avalanche prone locations are difficult to recognise. The risk of falling and injury generally outweighs the risk of burial.
Snowpack
A few centimetres of new and wind-slab snow cover previously loose ground or a hardness, sometimes icy surface of old snow. On shady slopes in particular, small snowdrift accumulations usually overlay a weak old snowpack, which now consists mainly of faceted crystals or deep rime.
Tendency
No significant change in avalanche danger.
Danger level
Low avalanche danger and lack of snow
The avalanche risk is low. There is very little snow, only in the entrance areas to steep, on shady slopes can there be pillows of wind drifted snow. Otherwise, the danger of injury from stones and falling on icy surfaces outweighs the risk of burial.
Snowpack
On shady slopes and flat ground, traces of settled new fallen snow or thin wind slabs cover the previously apery meadows or icy old snow surface. Edged persistent weak layers weaken the thin snow base, fundament if present.
