Beware of fresh wind slab, avalanche prone locations in persistent weak layers are rare but have serious consequences
The avalanche risk is considerable above the tree line and low below.
Avalanches in wind slabs can be triggered very easily by individuals, in particular in the north-west to east aspects. Danger areas are located behind terrain edges as well as in steep gullies and bowls and in the forest boundary area. Avalanches can reach medium size, and avalanches can occasionally become large by tearing through deeper weak layers in the persistent weak layer.
Above 2000 m, in the aspects from west to north to east, medium and occasionally large, dry slab avalanches can still be triggered by individuals in persistent weak layers in a few places. Such avalanche prone locations are rare but often not recognisable in the terrain. Take particular care at the transitions from little to more snow.
In sunny conditions, small loose snow avalanches can usually be triggered from extremely steep sunny slopes.
Snowpack
10 to 25 cm of new fallen snow on top of a thin layer of new and wind slab snow from the past few days. Beneath this lies soft, faceted snow in shady high areas. Otherwise, there is often a thin melt-freeze crust under the thin layer of fresh snow. Deeper in the snowpack, faceted crystals can be found on a crust; close to the ground, the snowpack consists of angular, cup-shaped crystals. The connection at the transition to the deep snowpack near the ground is still poor. Deep and sunny middle layers were largely covered with snow before the snowfall.
Tendency
No significant change in avalanche danger.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Pay attention to fresh wind slab, avalanche prone locations in persistent weak layers are rare but have serious consequences
The avalanche risk is moderate above the tree line and low below.
In the aspects from west to south-east, avalanches can easily be triggered by individuals in wind slabs. Danger areas are located behind terrain edges as well as in steep gullies and bowls and in the forest boundary area. Avalanches can occasionally reach medium size, and avalanches can occasionally become large when tearing through deeper weak layers in the persistent weak layer.
Above 2000 m, 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. Such avalanche prone locations are rare but often not recognisable in the terrain. Take particular care at the transitions from little to more snow.
In sunlight, small loose snow avalanches can usually be triggered from extremely steep slopes.
Snowpack
5 to 20 cm of new fallen snow is lying on a thin layer of new and wind slab snow from the past few days. Beneath this lies soft, faceted snow in shady high areas. Otherwise, there is often a thin melt-freeze crust under the thin layer of fresh snow. Deeper in the snowpack, faceted crystals can be found on a crust; close to the ground, the snowpack consists of angular, cup-shaped crystals. The connection at the transition to the deep snowpack near the ground is still poor. Deep and sunny middle layers were largely snowed out before the snowfall.
Tendency
No significant change in avalanche danger.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Take into account persistent weak layers and avoid small-scale pillows of wind drifted snow
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. Fresh, small-scale pillows of wind drifted snow in the areas adjacent to the ridgeline, crest or summit of the extended northern and eastern exposures are temporarily prone to triggering.
Snowpack
The little new and wind slab snow lies in shady high altitudes on a soft, faceted snow surface. Otherwise, there is often a thin melt-freeze crust under the thin layer of new snow. Deeper in the snowpack, faceted crystals can be found on a crust; close to the ground, the snowpack consists of angular, cup-shaped crystals. The connection at the transition to the deep snowpack near the ground is still poor. Deep and sunny middle layers are largely snowed out.
Tendency
No significant change in avalanche danger.
Danger level
Low risk of isolated wet snow avalanches
The avalanche risk is low.
Small slab avalanches can be triggered in the shaded steep terrain adjacent to ridgelines by slight additional load in the wind slab. In addition, in the entrance areas of steep gullies on shady slopes with large additional loads, small slabs of snow can also be triggered occasionally. The risk of being swept along and falling on icy surfaces that may be thinly covered with snow and therefore difficult to recognise generally outweighs the risk of burial.
Snowpack
5 to 15 cm of new fallen snow has fallen at low altitude and in sunny mid-altitudes on apery ground. Where there was still a snowpack, it is often well set, but in the higher, on shady slopes there are still weak layers of large faceted crystals in the lower part of the snowpack, especially near the ground. Weak layers of overblown new fallen snow can be addressed on a small scale.
