Avalanche prone locations in wind slab, in the higher altitudes also in persistent weak layers
The avalanche risk is considerable from the sparse high forest upwards and low below. The fresh wind slab is prone to triggering and can be triggered in many places with little additional load; slab avalanches can reach medium size. All aspects and both adjacent to ridgelines and steep terrain far from ridgelines are affected. Drift snow areas are partly covered with snow and are difficult to recognise.
At high altitudes (especially on western, northern and eastern slopes), avalanches can also penetrate the persistent weak layer and occasionally become large if there is a large additional load.
Snowpack
Last week's new and wind slab snow has settled and has already crusted again on sunny slopes up to over 2000 metres. There is up to 40 cm of new fallen snow in windless areas, while exposed areas are heavily blown and snowdrift accumulations are correspondingly thick. Fractures are possible in particular in the fresh windslab snow, but in some cases also in the old snowpack, in which faceted crystals (sometimes on crusts) and deep frost weaken the structure both near the surface and deeper inside. This mainly affects shady high altitudes and generally high alpine locations.
Tendency
Weakening snowfall and wind lead to a slow improvement.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Fresh wind slab prone to triggering
The avalanche risk is moderate. Above the tree line, the fresh wind slab can be triggered as a slab in some places even with a small additional load. Avalanches can reach medium size. There are avalanche prone locations both adjacent to ridgelines and distant from ridgelines, as well as in steep gullies and in forest aisles. Drift snow areas are sometimes covered with snow and are difficult to recognise.
Snowpack
Last week's new and wind-slab snow has settled and has already crusted again on sunny slopes up to over 2000 metres. There is up to 30 cm of new fallen snow in windless areas, while exposed areas are heavily blown and snowdrift accumulations are correspondingly thick. Fractures are possible in particular in the fresh windslab snow, but in some cases also in the old snowpack, in which faceted crystals (sometimes on crusts) and deep frost weaken the structure both near the surface and deeper inside. This mainly affects shady high altitudes and generally high alpine locations.
Tendency
Weakening snowfall and wind lead to a slow improvement.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Fresh wind slab prone to triggering
The avalanche risk is moderate above the tree line. Fresh wind slabs can be triggered as small or medium-sized slabs in all aspects, even under low loads. Avalanche prone locations are mainly in gullies, bowls and behind terrain edges, also distant from ridgelines. Take particular care on very steep western, northern and eastern slopes above around 2000 metres. Transitions from little to more snow are particularly unfavourable.
Snowpack
The snow surface is characterised by the north-westerly storm of the last few days and the storm is also depositing fresh wind slab. It covers an unfavourable old snow surface above the tree line. Fractures are possible between the drift snow layers and at the transition to the persistent weak layer. The old snowpack is particularly weakened on western, northern and eastern slopes above around 2000 metres by layers of faceted crystals and deep frost as well as by a foundation of floating snow close to the ground.
Tendency
Weakening snowfall and wind lead to a slow improvement.
