Danger level

Wet snow

Rainfall will increase danger of wet-snow avalanches

Following a night of partly cloudy skies, snow is thoroughly wet already in early morning. Rainfall will heighten the likelihood of wet-snow avalanches triggering during the course of the day. Wherever the rainfall is heavy, wet loose-snow slides can sweep along more snow into the plummet path, turning the releases into large-sized ones with long plummet paths, particularly on north-facing slopes where there is a lot of snow on the ground.On steep, smooth-ground slopes with lots of snow which have not yet discharged, glide-snow avalanches can trigger in all aspects.

Snowpack

Due to reduced nocturnal longwave outgoing radiation and ongoing mild temperatures, the snowpack does not freeze at night. During daytime hours, up to 10mm of rainfall is expected in some places.

Tendency

Due to reduced nocturnal longwave outgoing radiation on Thursday night, wet-snow problem will predominate already in early morning on Friday.

Danger level

2400m

Wet snow		2400m
Persistent weak layer		2400m

At low and intermediate altitudes, wet-snow; at high altitudes, old snow and small drifts.

Following a night of partly cloudy skies, the snowpack hardly freezes below 2400m and is rotten already in the early morning hours. Avalanches can in places be easily triggered, in particular on very steep north-facing slopes at altitudes between 1800 and 2200m. In addition, the likelihood of wet-snow avalanches will increase due to rainfall. Naturally triggered avalanches can be expected; and persons can trigger wet-snow avalanches. Avalanches can sweep along more snow into their plummet path and thereby grow to large size. At high altitudes, small snowdrift accumulations will be generated which - particularly near ridgelines - are prone to triggering. Furthermore, winter sports enthusiasts can trigger avalanches in the near-surface weak layers on high-altitude shady slopes in places. Such danger zones are impossible to recognize. Atop the hardened snowpack surface in high alpine regions, there is danger of being forced to take a fall on steep slopes.

Snowpack

During the course of the day, up to 5cm of fresh snow is anticipated above 2200m, accompanied by wind impact; lower down there will be rainfall. At altitudes between 1800 and 2200m, the snowpack is thoroughly wet, even on north-facing slopes, and the rotten snow at ground level is highly prone to triggering even in the early morning. In high-altitude, steep and shady terain, there are unfavorable intermediate layers in the uppermost metre of the snowpack which in places are prone to triggering. A thick mid-section of compact layers blankets the deep hoar and faceted crystals at the base of the snowpack.

Tendency

After weather conditions improve, the daily danger-cycle will return.

Danger level

2200m

Wet snow		2200m
Wind slab		2200m
Persistent weak layer		2200m

The wet snow problem remains, above 2200 m there are avalanche prone locations in the drift and persistent weak layer.

The avalanche risk is considerable below 2200 m and moderate above. Wet loose snow and slab avalanches are possible in all aspects on slopes below around 2200 m that have not yet been discharged. The avalanches can occur spontaneously or be triggered by individuals. They usually remain medium in size, but in isolated cases they can also become large. Above 2200 m, small slab avalanches can be triggered in fresh wind slab in some places. The number and size of snowdrift accumulations increase slightly with altitude. In a few places above 2200 m, weak layers in the persistent weak layer can also be disturbed, especially on west, north and east-facing slopes, and also south-facing slopes in the high Alps. The avalanche prone locations are difficult to recognise. Snow slabs in the persistent weak layer can reach medium size, but in isolated cases avalanches can also tear through to the floating snow close to the ground and become large.

Snowpack

Outgoing longwave radiation at night is limited, only at high altitudes can a thin crust of melted snow form on the snow surface. With the onset of rain, the snowpack is further soaked up to around 2000 metres. At higher altitudes (from around 2200 m), small-scale snowdrift accumulations form. The fresh wind slab contains soft layers that are temporarily prone to triggering. On shady slopes from around 2200 m and south-facing slopes from around 2400 m, there are also prone to triggering weak layers of angular forms and deep rime in the old snowpack. Fractures are most likely to occur on one of the uppermost crusts and only occasionally in the floating snow close to the ground.

Tendency

Saturday will bring more sunshine and a slight rise in temperatures. The fresh wind slab sets quickly, the old and wet snow problem remains.

Danger level

Wet snow
Wind slab		1800m

Moderate avalanche danger!

The avalanche risk is predominantly moderate. Below the snowfall level, spontaneous medium wet snow avalanches from steep, undischarged terrain should be noted due to rainfall. Due to new fallen snow and strong winds, fresh snowdrift accumulations can form locally in the ridgelines and summits, which must be taken into account.

Snowpack

Due to new fallen snow and wind, fresh snowdrift accumulations are forming locally at higher elevations. Below the snowfall level, the snowpack is decreasing firmness due to the rain. The old snowpack is moist to wet up to high altitudes. However, weak layers may still be present in the old snowpack, which is not yet moist, particularly on shady slopes and at higher elevations. The snowpack can also start gliding snow on the ground.

Tendency

With the expected rise in temperature and sunshine, there will be daytime changes in the avalanche risk.

Danger level

1800m

Wet snow		1800m
Wind slab		1800m
Persistent weak layer		2200m

Fresh wind slabs at higher elevations, some spontaneous wet snow avalanches below!

The avalanche risk is moderate. Wet loose snow and slab avalanches are possible in all aspects on slopes below around 1800 metres that have not yet been discharged with the arrival of rain. The avalanches can occur spontaneously or be triggered by individuals and reach medium size. At higher altitudes (usually above 1800 m), fresh snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering form, the number and size of which increase with altitude. Slab avalanches in fresh wind slab usually remain small. In extremely steep, shady areas above 2200 m, small to medium-sized slab avalanches can occasionally be triggered by individuals (persistent weak layer problem).

Snowpack

Outgoing longwave radiation at night is limited; a thin crust of melted snow can only form on the snow surface at the summit level. With the onset of rain, the snowpack becomes increasingly soaked. In the west, the snowfall level is sometimes above 1800 metres, in the east often below. Small-scale snowdrift accumulations form at higher altitudes. There are weak layers within the wind slab and in the transition to the old snowpack. In very shady areas above 2200 m, the snowpack still has cold reserves and some weak layers in the persistent weak layer that are prone to triggering.

Tendency

On Saturday, sunny weather will return during the daytime changes and it will become milder again. The wind slab problem will decrease, but wet snow avalanches are still to be expected.

Danger level

1800m

Wet snow		1800m
Wind slab		1800m
Persistent weak layer		1800m

Moderate avalanche danger - fresh wind slab and wet snow!

The avalanche risk is predominantly moderate. Due to new fallen snow and strong winds, fresh snowdrift accumulations can form, especially in the high areas adjacent to ridgelines, which must be observed. Locally, wet, naturally triggered avalanches of medium intensity are possible from very steep, extreme terrain below the snowfall level. In the shady high altitudes, slab avalanches can still be triggered in very steep terrain due to the old snow problem.

Snowpack

New fallen snow and wind are causing fresh snowdrift accumulations in the higher elevations. Below the snowfall level, rainfall causes a decreasing firmness of the snowpack. The old snowpack is moist to wet up to high altitudes. However, weak layers may still be present in the old snowpack, which is not yet moist, especially on shady slopes and at higher elevations. The snowpack can also start gliding snow on the ground.

Tendency

With the expected rise in temperatures and sunshine on Saturday, there will be daytime changes in the avalanche risk.

Danger level

2200m

Wet snow		2200m
Wind slab		2200m
Persistent weak layer		2200m

The wet snow problem remains, above 2200 m there are avalanche prone locations in the drift and persistent weak layer

The avalanche risk is moderate. Wet loose snow and slab avalanches are possible in all aspects on slopes below around 2200 metres that have not yet been discharged. The avalanches can occur spontaneously or be triggered by individuals. They usually remain small to medium-sized. Above 2200 m, small slab avalanches can be triggered in fresh wind slab in some places. The number and size of snowdrift accumulations increase slightly with altitude. In a few places above 2200 m, weak layers in the persistent weak layer can also be disturbed by individuals in the extended northern sector; the slabs can reach medium size.

Snowpack

Outgoing longwave radiation at night is limited; a thin crust of melted snow can only form on the snow surface at summit level. With the onset of rain, the snowpack is further soaked up to around 2000 metres. At higher altitudes (from around 2200 m), small-scale snowdrift accumulations form. The fresh wind slab contains soft layers that are temporarily prone to triggering. In addition, on shady slopes from around 2200 m, there are still prone to triggering weak layers of angular shapes and deep rime in the old snowpack.

Tendency

Saturday will bring more sunshine and a slight rise in temperatures. The fresh wind slab sets quickly, the old and wet snow problem remains.

Danger level

2000m

Wet snow		2000m
Wind slab		2000m

Depending on the amount of new snow, the snowdrift accumulations can be somewhat larger.

The avalanche risk is moderate. Wet snow is the main problem. Wet loose snow or slab avalanches release themselves, especially on extremely steep terrain. Occasional wet gliding avalanches can also occur on steep slopes with a smooth surface. Sliding snow cracks indicate the danger. Wet avalanches reach medium size. Above 2000 m, wind slab avalanches can be a problem. Dry slab avalanches can be triggered by low additional loads on a few steep slopes with aspects from north-east to east to south as well as in gullies and bowls. If avalanches near the surface break through to deeper layers, they can reach medium size.

Snowpack

Night-time outgoing longwave radiation is severely limited and only a thin melt-freeze crust can form. It is snowing at high altitudes. The new fallen snow is accompanied by winds from the west. Fresh snowdrift accumulations are forming, in which weak intermediate layers may be embedded. In places, individual layers deeper in the snowpack are still prone to triggering. In general, the snowpack is moist up to higher elevations. Only on the northern sides of the highest elevations is it still dry. Its base there often consists of faceted crystals. The base of the snowpack at middle elevations is wet.

Tendency

The avalanche danger hardly changes.

Danger level

1800m

Persistent weak layer

1800m

Weak layers in old snow

The main danger is posed by weak layers in old snow, which are deeper in the snowpack. These weak layers are more common in the axis above the forest. In particular, a medium-sized avalanche can be triggered if the load exceeds the load-bearing capacity of these layers. The snowpack stability is also lower in sloping terrain and in ravines, where it is greater due to snow deposits.

Snowpack

dp.4: cold following warm / warm following cold

A colder air mass will cause the snowpack to freeze overnight. During the day, the snow on Sunny slopes will become slightly lighter, but not as heavy as in recent days. There is still some blowing snow from the last snowfall, which may be unstable in a few places. During the day, some avalanches of southern snow are possible. In the old snow cover, the snow layers are mostly well connected. More or less deep below the surface, there are several weak layers of faceted snow crystals and sheared grains, which are more frequent on axial slopes.

Tendency

At the end of the week it will be warmer and sunnier again. Isolated avalanches of southern snow are possible in the mid-day and afternoon.

Danger level

Wet snow

Small wet-snow slides as a result of rainfall

Due to rain impact, wet loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally, particularly in extremely steep terrain. Avalanches are generally small-sized.

Snowpack

South-facing slopes are frequently bare of snow. Where there’s a snowpack on the ground, it’s thoroughly wet.

Tendency

Improving weather conditions. The slopes will continue to become bare of snow.

Danger level

Wet snow

Occasional small wet snow slides

The avalanche risk is low. With the onset of rain, isolated wet avalanches can spontaneously occur from slopes of all aspects that have not yet been discharged. The risk of entrainment and falling should be taken into account.

Snowpack

The snow surface can consolidate somewhat overnight. With light rainfall, however, it softens again during the day and is further moistened. In shady areas above around 2000 metres, there are still faceted layers in the lower part of the snowpack. In general, there is little snow and the snow cover is thinning out.

Tendency

Saturday brings more sunshine again. The soaking is progressing.

Danger level

Wet snow

Rain continues to melt the snowpack.

The avalanche risk is low. Wet snow is the problem. In extremely steep terrain, wet loose snow avalanches and on steep slopes with smooth ground, wet gliding avalanches can release themselves. Wet avalanches usually remain small.

Snowpack

The outgoing longwave radiation at night is severely limited and a stable melt-freeze crust can hardly form. The precipitation falls widely as rain and ensures additional soaking of the partly wet snowpack.

Tendency

No change in avalanche danger

Danger level

Wet snow

Low avalanche danger, occasional small wet snow slides!

The avalanche risk is low. Rainfall can occasionally lead to small wet snow slides, especially from multiple starting zones that have not yet been fully discharged. The risk of being swept away and falling should be taken into account.

Snowpack

Overnight outgoing longwave radiation can cause the snow surface to consolidate somewhat. The thin snowpack will become damp in all areas during the daytime changes, and with rainfall it will also become wet in places and lose firmness. Only in very shady areas above 2000 metres does the snowpack still have small cold reserves and occasional weak layers in the persistent weak layer. In general, there is very little snow and the depletion is progressing.

Tendency

It will be milder again on Saturday. After clearing clouds and sunshine, the danger of wet slides will increase slightly again during the day changes.

Danger level

Wet snow
Wind slab		1800m

Some fresh wind slab snow in the summit areas and occasional small wet snow slides

The avalanche risk is low. With the arrival of rain, small wet snow slides may spontaneously occur from slopes of all aspects that have not yet been discharged. In addition, small-scale snowdrift accumulations will form in the summit areas with some new fallen snow and wind, which are temporarily prone to triggering. Slab avalanches in fresh wind slab remain small.

Snowpack

Outgoing longwave radiation at night is limited and the snow surface hardly crusts can form. With the onset of rain, the snowpack below around 1800 metres is further soaked. In the summit areas, small-scale snowdrift accumulations form on the existing, moist snowpack. Soft layers in the fresh wind slab are temporarily prone to triggering.

Tendency

Saturday will bring more sunshine and a slight rise in temperatures. The fresh wind slab settles quickly.