Danger level

treeline

Persistent weak layer		Treeline
Wind slab		Treeline
Wet snow		1500m

The current snowpack pattern is uncommon and requires special attention and caution!

New fallen snow, blowing snow and weak layers in the snowpack in the high alpine regions

New fallen snow has put additional load on the weak layers in the old snow cover. Places with blown snow and shady areas where there is a weak layer deep in the snowpack are more dangerous. In particular, at low loads, medium-sized avalanches of packed snow are possible. Snow will fall during the day, with wind blowing New fallen snow and building snowdrift accumulations. If it snows during the day, the danger of avalanches will increase! In the mid-mountains, it will rain below about 1500 m, where wet snow avalanches and gliding avalanches may occur.

Snowpack

dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
dp.4: cold following warm / warm following cold

Previous snowfalls have brought more snow on top of a weak snowpack. This bonded snow has adhered slightly better to the ground in the mid-mountains, where rain or wet snow has fallen in between. During the day, up to 20 cm of New fallen snow will fall above 1500 m, possibly locally up to 30 cm. The south-westerly wind, which will strengthen during the day, will build new drifts on the leeward sides of ridges. Deep and persistent weak layers are present in the old snow cover. The snowpack is unstable in many places.

Tendency

It will snow on Wednesday, with 20 cm to 30 cm of New fallen snow. In the high alpine regions, moderate winds will carry the snow and build up new drifts. The danger of avalanches will increase.

Danger level

treeline

Wind slab		Treeline
Persistent weak layer		2200m
Persistent weak layer		2200m

Storm-strength foehn wind depositing new snowdrifts atop weak old snowpack

Fresh, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations blanket marked weak layers in the old snow: activities in backcountry demand cautious evaluation of the terrain and the dangers, as well as restraint. Caution is imperative in ridgeline zones, as well as in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Avalanches which release can fracture to deeper layers in the old snowpack and grow to medium size. Such danger zones occur especially on steep shady slopes and are impossible to spot. Also remote triggerings are possible. Whumpf noises and fractures when treading on the surface are alarm signals. On sunny slopes, generally small loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally during the course of the day. In addition, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations will be generated during the day in foehn-exposed regions.

Snowpack

Fresh snowdrift accumulations lie deposited atop loosely packed snow or surface hoar in many places above the treeline, and also on top of a weak old snowpack surface, particularly on steep shady slopes. Avalanches triggered by winter sports enthusiasts and fractures on the surface confirm how prone to triggering the snowpack is.

Tendency

Weak layers in the old snow can still be triggered by one single winter sports enthusiast. The likelihood of fresh drifts triggering will decrease during the course of the day only very little over the next period of time.

Danger level

2000m

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 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

treeline

Wind slab		Treeline
Persistent weak layer

Avoid fresh wind slab.

The avalanche risk is considerable above the tree line and low below. The main problem is fresh wind slab. In many places, slab avalanches can be triggered by even a small additional load. Avalanche prone locations are adjacent to ridgelines and distant from ridgelines in steep terrain with aspects from north-west to north to south-east as well as in gullies and bowls. They increase in number and size with altitude. Avalanches can be of medium size - especially if they tear through deeper, weak layers in the persistent weak layer.

Snowpack

With stormy south-westerly winds, fresh snowdrift accumulations develop at altitude. In many places, they come to rest prone to triggering on surface hoar and soft layers. The old snowpack consists of large, angular and rounded crystals and is partly interspersed with melt-freeze crusts. On the sunny slopes, there is little or no snow at all at medium altitudes.

Tendency

With foehn storms, prone to triggering snowdrift accumulations continue to grow, especially at high altitudes.

Danger level

1800m

Persistent weak layer		1800m
Wind slab		Treeline

Avoid freshly generated snowdrift accumulations!

Stormy-strength foehn winds are generating fresh, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations. A single winter sports enthusiast can trigger small slab avalanches in some places. If releases then sweep away deeper weak layers of the snowpack, the avalanche can in isolated cases grow to medium size. Caution is urged in ridgeline terrain, wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Danger zones are difficult to spot, they occur 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 require caution. On sunny slopes, generally small loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally during the course of the day.

Snowpack

Older snowdrift accumulations from last week often lie deposited atop loose old snow at high altitudes, or atop a melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack surface. Particularly on steep shady slopes, there are often unfavorable intermediate and fundament layers inside the old snowpack which have persisted.

Tendency

As a result of strong-to-stormy SW winds, fresh snowdrift accumulations will be generated. Thus, avalanche danger can increase again at high altitudes.

Danger level

treeline

Persistent weak layer

Treeline

Persistent weak layer problem! Take particular care in gullies and bowls in northern and eastern exposures!

The avalanche risk is assessed as moderate above the tree line and low below. The snow layering is still very weak, especially in the northern and eastern sectors. Here, avalanches can be triggered by even small additional loads and can reach medium size when breaking through the weak old snowpack. In some cases, there is a thin, bound layer from the last snowfall. The danger areas are mainly located in the transition from little to more snow as well as behind terrain edges and in the entrance area of gullies and bowls. Some of the avalanche prone locations are difficult to recognise.

Snowpack

The total snow depth is well below average. A thin, partly bound snowpack covers a very variable and mostly hard old snowpack. There is significantly more snow in shady gullies and bowls than on sunny slopes, which are partly bare up to 2000 metres. In the northern and eastern exposures, the snowpack is still weakened by layers with faceted crystals and floating snow (persistent weak layer problem!).

Tendency

An Italian low will bring snowfall and rain on Wednesday. The snowfall level will be between 800 and 1500 metres above sea level. There will be hardly any precipitation on the northern side of the Alps. The southerly wind will ease in the west. The avalanche risk increases slightly with the new fallen snow.

Danger level

treeline

Wind slab		Treeline
Persistent weak layer		1400m

Avoid freshly generated snowdrifts!

Avalanche risk above the timberline is moderate, below that altitude it is low. Main problem: fresh snowdrifts. Small slab avalanches can be triggered in some places even by minimum additional loading. Danger zones occur in steep ridgeline terrain in N/NW/SE aspects and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Avalanches can in isolated cases sweep away deeper weak layers of the snowpack, but still remain small-sized.

Snowpack

Particularly on steep shady slopes, unfavorable intermediate layers inside the old snowpack have often persisted. During recent nights, surface hoar has often been generated. The melt-freeze crust which formed overnight softens up on sunny slopes during daytime hours. At lower altitudes there is little snow on the ground. South-facing slopes are increasingly becoming bare of snow.

Tendency

No significant change anticipated

Danger level

treeline

Wind slab		Treeline
Persistent weak layer

Some avalanche prone locations in fresh wind slab.

The avalanche risk is moderate above the tree line and low below. The main problem is fresh wind slab. Small slab avalanches can be triggered in some places by even a small additional load. Avalanche prone locations are adjacent to ridgelines and distant from ridgelines in steep terrain with aspects from north-west to north to south-east as well as in gullies and bowls. Avalanches can occasionally tear through weak layers of persistent weak layer and then become medium sized. In addition to the risk of burial, the risk of falling and injury must be taken into account.

Snowpack

With stormy south-westerly winds, small, fresh snowdrift accumulations develop at altitude. They come to rest prone to triggering on surface hoar and soft layers. The old snowpack consists of large, angular and rounded crystals and is partly interspersed with melt-freeze crusts. There is little or no snow up to high altitudes on the sunny slopes.

Tendency

With foehn storms, prone to triggering snowdrift accumulations continue to grow, especially at high altitudes.

Danger level

2000m

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

1500m

Persistent weak layer

1500m

Low avalanche danger, but watch out for older wind slabs in the north and east aspects!

The avalanche risk is low. In a few places, snowdrift accumulations can be triggered as small slab avalanches, especially in extremely steep and shady gullies and bowls. Avalanche prone locations and icy areas are covered with a thin layer of fresh snow. The risk of falling and injury is greater than the danger of burial.

Snowpack

There is still significantly less snow than average. From midday, a few centimetres of new fallen snow may cover small, older snowdrift accumulations. Where there is a snow base, fundament (shady areas at high altitudes), angular snow crystals will weaken the stability of the snowpack.

Tendency

Wednesday will bring lots of clouds, it will become milder and it will slowly start to rain or snow at the highest altitudes. The precipitation intensifies towards the evening and the snowfall level slowly drops. The avalanche risk will remain low on Wednesday, but may increase afterwards depending on the amount of new snow.

Danger level

Low avalanche danger with mostly little snow.

The avalanche risk is low. In extremely steep gullies or bowls on shady slopes, the triggering of small slab avalanches cannot be completely ruled out.

Snowpack

There is still significantly less snow than average. A thin, partly bound snowpack covers a very variable and mostly hard old snowpack. In shady gullies and bowls, the connection between the bound snowpack and the old snowpack is sometimes poor. In addition, angular shapes can weaken the snow base, fundament.

Tendency

An Italian low will bring snowfall and rain on Wednesday. The snowfall level will be between 800 and 1500 metres above sea level. The southerly wind is easing. With the new fallen snow, the avalanche risk increases slightly on Wednesday afternoon.

Danger level

2000m

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

treeline

Wind slab		Treeline
Persistent weak layer

Pay attention to small scale wind slab.

The avalanche risk is low. Occasional small slab avalanches can be triggered with little additional load in the wind slab and very occasionally in the persistent weak layer. Avalanche prone locations are adjacent to ridgelines on steep slopes in the northern and eastern aspects. The risk of falling and injury is greater than the danger of burial.

Snowpack

Stormy winds can move the snow where the snow surface is still soft (mostly on the eastern and northern sides) and create small snowdrift accumulations. These are prone to triggering on surface hoar or soft layers. Otherwise, the snow surface is often crusted can form. The melt-freeze crust softens again in the sun. The old snowpack consists of faceted crystals and is partly interspersed with melt-freeze crusts. There is little to no snow on the sunny slopes.

Tendency

Avalanche danger remains low.

Danger level

treeline

Persistent weak layer

Treeline

Low avalanche danger, but persistent weak layer problems in the northern and eastern exposures!

The avalanche risk is low. In the northern and eastern exposures, there is still a persistent weak layer problem at altitudes above the tree line. In steep terrain, small slab avalanches can be triggered in a few places by individual winter sports enthusiasts. Avalanche prone locations are mainly at the entrance to on shady slopes and bowls as well as behind terrain edges. In general, the risk of being swept away, falling and injury outweighs the risk of burial. However, be careful in the area of terrain traps.

Snowpack

There is still significantly less snow than average. A thin, partly bound snowpack covers a very variable and mostly hard old snowpack. There is significantly more snow in shady gullies and bowls than on sunny slopes, some of which are partly bare up to 2000 metres. In the northern and eastern exposures, the snowpack is still weakened by layers with faceted crystals and floating snow (persistent weak layer problem!).

Tendency

An Italian low will bring snowfall and rain to the south on Wednesday. The snowfall level will be between 800 and 1500 metres above sea level. There will be hardly any precipitation on the northern side of the Alps. The southerly wind will ease in the west. No change in the avalanche danger is expected.

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.

Tendency

No significant change in avalanche danger.

Danger level

1800m

Persistent weak layer

1800m

Persistent weak layer problem in the high altitudes!

The avalanche risk is low. There are still avalanche prone locations due to the constant problem of old snow, especially in the high areas on the north and shady slopes. In places, slab avalanches can be triggered by just one person in steep terrain. Avalanche prone locations are mainly adjacent to ridgelines and behind terrain edges. These are somewhat covered and therefore difficult to recognise.

Snowpack

The snow base, fundament contains faceted crystals without bonds, which are mainly transformed on the north and on shady slopes. The old snowpack, weakened as a result, is often hard on the surface and covered by a thin settled layer. Only in very exposed areas could there be some older wind slab on a small scale. In general, there is little snow, which is very unevenly distributed.

Tendency

No change.

Danger level

Low avalanche danger - only isolated avalanche prone locations

The avalanche risk is low. Occasionally, small slab avalanches can be triggered, especially in extremely steep and shady gullies and bowls. Avalanche prone locations as well as icy areas are often covered by some new fallen snow. Beware of persistent danger of falling!

Snowpack

There is still significantly less snow than average. A thin layer of fresh snow is covering the hard old snowpack that still exists in some places, or areas that are still bare. Edged snow crystals can weaken the snow base, fundament.

Tendency

Wednesday will bring lots of clouds, it will become milder and it will slowly start to rain or snow at the highest altitudes. The precipitation intensifies towards the evening and the snowfall level slowly drops. The avalanche risk will remain low on Wednesday, but may increase afterwards depending on the amount of new snow.