The avalanche risk is predominantly moderate above 1800 metres. There are still avalanche prone locations on shady slopes in steep terrain. Here and at the transition from little to more snow, isolated slab avalanches can be triggered by mostly large additional loads. Individual spontaneous wet snow avalanches are possible from unloaded steep slopes.
Snowpack
Rain showers and some new fallen snow above around 1200 metres until the afternoon. The new fallen snow will fall on a barely stabilized, partly crusted, otherwise often up to high altitudes moist or wet old snowpack. The snow base, fundament remains high and weakened on the shady slopes due to the kinetic metamorphism. At low altitude or sunny slopes, the snow cover remains bare or slightly "sugared".
Tendency
Little change.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Wind slab
2000m
Beware snowdrifts and weak layers on shady slopes
Fresh snow and drifts on wind-protected shady slopes often lie deposited atop surface hoar. Winter sports enthusiasts can trigger avalanches. In addition, isolated avalanches can be triggered in the weak old snow, particularly by large additional loading in shady, very steep backcountry touring terrain. These danger zones occur most of all in steep spots where the snow is relatively shallow and in transition from shallow to deep snow. If avalanches fracture down to deeper-down layers inside the snowpack, they can in isolated cases grow to large size.
Snowpack
Above about 1500m there was about 10cm of fresh snow registered on Thursday, less in Silvretta and Verwall. Fresh fallen snow and loosely-packed old snow will be transportred by intensifying foehn winds until Saturday midday. Thereafter, another 5-10cm of fresh snow will be added to it. The fresh fallen snow frequently lies atop surface hoar on shady slopes at all altitudes. The mid-part of the snowpack consists widespread of well settled, compact layers which on shady high-altitude slopes blanket a poorly structured old snowpack fundament.
Tendency
By Sunday, 15-25cm of fresh snow is anticipated. Accompanied by moderate-strength winds, generally small snowdrift accumulations can be generated near ridgelines at higher altitudes.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Wet snow
2100m
Weak layers persist deep in the snowpack
The problem is the weak layers in the snowpack, which are deeper in the snowpack. If the load exceeds the load-bearing capacity of the deeper Weak layers, a deep and large avalanche can be triggered. There are many such weak layers, especially on axis above the forest. Small wet snow avalanches are possible during the day on sunny slopes.
Snowpack
dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
In high alpine regions, there is a crust on the surface, and the snow layers are mostly interconnected. The crust supports the skier's weight and can be frozen in the morning. In the mid-mountains, more and more terrestrial areas appear on the sunny slopes. In the old snow cover, several weak layers of shreds and frosted grains occur deep below the surface.
Tendency
It will clear up on Tuesday. Faster in the high alpine regions than in the mid mountains. There will be no major warming. The danger of avalanches will remain similar.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Wind slab
2000m
The main problem is a persistent weak layer in persistent weak layer, fresh wind slab is temporarily prone to triggering
The avalanche risk is moderate above around 2000 metres and low below. With the southerly foehn, fresh, prone-to-triggering pillows of wind drifted snow develop, which can easily be triggered by individuals in a few places, especially in the extended northern exposures. In addition, in the aspects from west to north to east, medium and occasionally large, dry slab avalanches can still be triggered by individuals in a few places. Danger areas are difficult to recognise away from freshly formed drift snow packs. Take particular care at the transitions from little to more snow. The likelihood of gliding avalanches remains somewhat increased.
Snowpack
During the partly cloudy night, only a thin melt-freeze crust forms, which softens again during the day. In shady high altitudes, soft, faceted snow can often still be found on the surface, which can be partly transported in the foehn aisles and partly overlaid by fresh wind slab in windless areas. Below this lies a well-set sequence of compact, older drift snow layers, in which a crust is embedded in combination with faceted crystals. The connection at the transition to the old snow foundation, which consists mainly of deep rime, is still poor. Deep and sunny middle layers are largely snowed out.
Tendency
The southerly foehn subsides and it snows unproductively. The avalanche danger does not change significantly.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Persistent weak layer problem on the north side
The avalanche risk is moderate above 1800 metres and low below. There is still a persistent weak layer problem in the extended northern sector. Medium-sized slab avalanches can still be triggered by people in steep gullies and bowls. The avalanche prone locations are usually difficult to recognise and are often located in transition areas from little to much snow.
The probability of triggering wet snow avalanches increases slightly during the daytime changes from very steep east- to south- to west-facing slopes.
In steep terrain, there is a risk of falling on the hard snow surface.
Snowpack
Outgoing longwave radiation is somewhat reduced from the second half of the night. As a result, the snow surface can often only consolidate weakly and soften increasingly on the sunny slopes depending on the incoming radiation. On shady slopes, there are still areas with a soft (faceted) snow surface at higher altitudes, where the firmness of the layer changes depending on the altitude and exposure. Below this there is an increasingly sufficiently settled and compact snowpack, the transition to the foundation consisting of deep rime (floating snow) is still poor. Medium (sunny slopes) and low altitudes are largely free of snow.
Tendency
Sunday morning will be partly sunny, especially from the Seetaler Alpe to the Wechsel. Rain showers will then develop from midday. Little change in the avalanche danger.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Beware snowdrifts on shady slopes
Fresh snow and fresh drifts lie often atop surface hoar on wind-protected, high-altitude shady slopes. Winter sports enthusiasts can trigger mostly small avalanches. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the danger of being swept along and forced to take a fall also requires due consideration.
Snowpack
Above about 1500m there was 10-15cm of fresh fallen snow registered on Thursday. Fresh snow and loosely-packed old snow will be transported by intensifying foehn winds until Saturday afternoon. Saturday morning, an additional 5-10cm of fresh snow will be delivered, on shady slopes often lying deposited atop surface hoar at all altitudes. The mid-level of the snowpack consists widespread of well settled, compact layers which on shady slopes at high altitudes are blanketed by a poorly structured old snowpack fundament. This weak layer is thus no longer to be triggered by persons.
Tendency
By Sunday, 15-25cm of fresh snowfall is anticipated. Accompanied by moderate winds, small snowdrift accumulations can be generated near ridgelines at higher altitudes.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Note the persistent weak layer
The avalanche risk is low. Medium-sized slab avalanches can still be triggered in a few hard-to-recognise places, especially in the extended northern sector above 1800 m, but usually only with a large additional load. This is in particular at the transitions from little to more snow. Occasionally, fresh, small-scale pillows of wind drifted snow develop that are temporarily prone to triggering.
Snowpack
During the partly cloudy night, only a thin melt-freeze crust forms, which softens again during the day. In shady high altitudes, soft, faceted snow can often still be found on the surface, which can be transported in particularly susceptible foehn lines. Below this lies a well-set sequence of compact, older drift snow layers, in which a crust is embedded in combination with faceted crystals. The connection at the transition to the old snow foundation, which consists mainly of deep rime, is still poor. Deep and sunny middle layers are largely snowed out.
Tendency
The southerly wind is easing and it's not snowing heavily. The avalanche risk does not change significantly.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Latent persistent weak layer problem, slightly increasing wet snow problem
The avalanche risk is low. Nevertheless, there is still a persistent weak layer problem in the extended northern sector. Occasionally, mainly in very steep gullies and bowls, slab avalanches can be triggered by people. The avalanche prone locations are usually difficult to recognise and are often located in transition areas from a little to a lot of snow.
On sunny slopes, incoming radiation increases the probability of triggering small wet snow avalanches.
In steep terrain, there is a risk of falling on the hard snow surface.
Snowpack
With outgoing longwave radiation, a melt-freeze crust can form, which softens on the sunny slopes during the day with increasing moisture penetration. On shady slopes at higher altitudes, there are still isolated areas with a soft (faceted) snow surface, where the firmness of the layer changes depending on altitude and exposure. Below this there is an increasingly sufficiently settled and compact snowpack, the transition to the foundation consisting of deep rime (floating snow) is still poor. Medium and low altitudes are often free of snow.
Tendency
On Sunday, the sun will often shine, especially on the southern side of the Alps, while there will be more clouds to the north of the main Alpine ridge. Local showers are to be expected in the afternoon. Little change in the avalanche danger.
Danger level
Isolated wet snow avalanches!
The avalanche risk is predominantly low. Sporadic spontaneous wet snow avalanches are possible from unloaded steep slopes. There are still isolated avalanche prone locations on shady slopes in steep terrain where slab avalanches can be triggered by large additional loads.
Snowpack
Rain showers and some new fallen snow above around 1200 metres until the afternoon. The new fallen snow will fall on a barely stabilized, partly crusted, otherwise often up to high altitudes moist or wet old snowpack. The snow base, fundament remains high and weakened on the shady slopes due to the kinetic metamorphism. At low altitude or sunny slopes, the snow cover remains bare or slightly "sugared".
Tendency
Little change.
Danger level
Low risk of isolated wet snow avalanches
The avalanche risk is low. In exceptional cases, small snow slabs can still be triggered in the entrance areas of steep gullies on the shady slopes with a large additional load. The risk of being swept away and falling on icy surfaces generally outweighs the risk of burial.
Snowpack
Low and sunny mid-altitude areas are snowed out. Where present, the snowpack is moist to wet and well-set right up to the summit areas. During the partly cloudy night, only a thin melt-freeze crust forms, which softens again during the day. In the higher areas on shady slopes, there are still weak layers of large faceted crystals in the lower part of the snowpack, especially close to the ground.
Tendency
There is unproductive precipitation. The avalanche danger does not change significantly.
Danger level
Low avalanche danger
The avalanche danger remains low. Nevertheless, isolated wet snow slides are possible on steep slopes, which can also be triggered by individual winter sports enthusiasts. On shady slopes, small slab avalanches are still possible in persistent weak layers.
Snowpack
The cloudless nights of the last two days have allowed a melt-freeze crust to form, which softens again during the day as temperatures rise and the sun shines. This melt-freeze crust lasts longer in shady locations. Convective showers have deposited graupel in places, which can still persist in shady high-altitude areas.
In gullies and bowls, the wind slab is well stabilised, but in some narrow places it is icy. Faceted crystals are partially weakening the snow base, fundament at higher elevations in the northern sector. There is only a little snow below 1400 metres and below 1600 metres on sunny slopes.
Tendency
The avalanche danger remains low. Saturday will be foehn and quite sunny. However, the south wind will be strong to stormy at higher altitudes. More clouds will gather on Sunday and it will start to cool down. The coming week will then bring changeable and much cooler weather.
Danger level
Precipitation falls on largely stable snowpack.
On very steep north-facing slopes on the summits, small slab avalanches can be triggered with large additional loads. This is particularly the case at transitions from a little to a lot of snow.
Snowpack
Despite the lack of outgoing longwave radiation, the snowpack will be mostly hard and moist down to the ground in the morning. Some new fallen snow will fall on this largely stable snowpack on Saturday. Only on the shady slopes adjacent to the ridgeline, crest or summit will there be weak layers of faceted crystals at the base of the snowpack. The low altitudes are snowed out.
Tendency
Depending on the amount of new snow, the avalanche risk may increase slightly.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Persistent weak layers are still problematic in some places.
The avalanche risk is low. Persistent weak layers are the main problem. The few avalanche prone locations are mainly in the northern aspects of the high altitudes on very steep slopes and at the entrance to gullies and bowls. Slab avalanches can be triggered with a large additional load and can reach medium size.
At medium altitudes, individual small to medium-sized gliding avalanches cannot be ruled out on slopes with smooth ground that have not yet been unloaded.
Snowpack
In shady high-altitude areas, layers of faceted crystals can be found deep under a compact snowpack and in some places close to the surface under a thin melt-freeze crust. A few centimetres of new fallen snow will fall on the compact old snow pack during the day changes on Saturday under the influence of wind. At medium elevations, the snowpack is wet towards the ground. The low altitudes are snowed out.
Tendency
Depending on the amount of new snow, the avalanche risk may increase slightly.
