The avalanche risk is already considerable below around 3000 metres in the morning. Wet slab avalanches and loose snow avalanches are possible on slopes that have not yet been discharged in all aspects. The avalanches can occur spontaneously or be triggered by individuals. They usually remain medium-sized, but can also become large in some places as wet snow accumulates and tears through the persistent weak layer.
In a few places above 2200 m, weak layers can also be disturbed directly in the old snow, especially on west, north and east-facing slopes, as well as south-facing slopes in the high Alps. Snow slabs in the persistent weak layer can be medium in size, and large if they break through into the floating snow close to the ground. The avalanche prone locations are difficult to recognise.
Small, fresh pillows of wind drifted snow can be disturbed in high, blown-in gullies and generally at the transition from little to much snow, especially adjacent to ridgelines.
Snowpack
The snowpack has difficulty cooling down overnight and a thin melt-freeze crust softens early in the morning. Beneath this lies well-settled snow from the last periods of precipitation, but softer layers are embedded, especially at higher altitudes, which allow fractures near the surface. On shady slopes from around 2200 metres, there are still prone to triggering weak layers of angular forms and deep rime in the old snowpack close to the ground. The snowpack becomes moist to wet up to high altitudes during daytime changes at the latest. Low altitudes are snowed out.
Tendency
The wet snow problem remains.
EARLIER Danger level
2400m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
2400m
Persistent weak layer
2400m
LATER Danger level
3000m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
3000m
Persistent weak layer
2400m
Heightened wet-snow danger from early morning, depending on nocturnal cloud cover
Danger of wet-snow avalanches is heightened even as of early morning, particularly on very steep north-facing slopes at 1800-2400m. As a result of daytime warming and solar radiation, avalanche danger quickly increases, in all aspects below 2400m, on on very steep sunny slopes up to high altitudes. Naturally triggered avalanches can be expected, avalanches can also be triggered by persons and grow to large size, also sweep along great amounts of wet snow in their plummet path and then extend to very long runout zones. In high alpine regions, small ridgeline snowdrift accumulations are still prone to triggering. In addition, winter sports enthusiasts can in places on high-altitude shady slopes trigger near-surface weak layers. Such danger zones are impossible to recognize. Atop the hardened snowpack surface, there is danger of being forced to take a fall on steep slopes.
Snowpack
Following reduced outgoing radiation and mild temperatures, the snowpack is hardly freezing at night. At altitudes of 1800-2400m the snowpack, even on north-facing slopes, is thoroughly wet and ground-level layers of rotten snow are prone to triggering already in early morning. In high-altitude, steep and shady terrain, 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
Until and including Monday, mild temperatures will continue with heavily clouded skies. The snowpack cannot firm up at night.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Wet snow is the main problem
The avalanche risk is moderate. Wet loose snow and slab avalanches are already possible in the morning on slopes that have not yet been discharged in all aspects and altitudes. The avalanches can occur spontaneously or be triggered by winter sports. They usually remain medium in size, but with the accumulation of wet snow and tearing through to weak layers close to the ground, large avalanches are conceivable in exceptional cases.
In a few places above 2200 m in the extended northern sector, weak layers directly in the persistent weak layer can be disturbed by individuals and lead to medium-sized slab avalanches.
Snowpack
The snowpack has difficulty cooling down overnight and a thin melt-freeze crust softens early in the morning. Underneath is well-settled snow from the last periods of precipitation. On shady slopes from around 2200 metres, there are still prone to triggering weak layers of angular forms and deep rime in the old snowpack close to the ground. The snowpack becomes moist to wet up to high altitudes during daytime changes at the latest. Low altitudes are snowed out.
Tendency
The wet snow problem remains.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Pay attention to the wet snow problem!
The avalanche risk is predominantly moderate at altitudes where there is still a sufficiently thick snowpack. From steep terrain that has not yet been discharged, spontaneous or moist to wet medium loose snow or slab avalanches triggered by additional load are possible in all aspects.
Snowpack
With only limited outgoing longwave radiation, the snow surface can hardly firmness. With the mild temperatures and incoming radiation, it loses firmness during the day. The snowpack is moist to wet up to high altitudes.
Tendency
No significant change in the avalanche situation.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Dominant wet snow problem all day long
The avalanche risk is moderate. From the morning onwards, mostly medium-sized, wet loose snow and slab avalanches can release themselves or be triggered by people from terrain that has not yet been discharged in all aspects.
In a few extremely steep, shady areas above 2200 m, small to medium-sized slab avalanches can still be triggered in persistent weak layers.
Snowpack
The outgoing longwave radiation at night is weak, so that the snow surface softens in the morning. Due to further soaking during the daytime changes, the isothermal snow cover up to high altitudes increasingly loses firmness. In very shady areas above 2200 metres, the snowpack still has cold reserves and in some cases has prone-to-triggering weak layers such as angular shapes and deep rime in the persistent weak layer. Deep and, in places, middle layers are also snowed out.
Tendency
Monday will continue to be mild, with often strong southerly winds. The wet snow problem will persist.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Reverse if the sinking depth is great!
The avalanche risk is moderate. Wet snow is the problem. Wet loose snow avalanches detach themselves from the extremely steep terrain in all aspects of the slope or can be easily triggered. The focus of loose snow avalanches is increasingly in the higher elevations. Wet gliding avalanches occur at medium altitudes on steep slopes with a smooth surface. Wet avalanches reach medium size.
Snowpack
An overcast sky and plus temperatures up to the summits also ensure further soaking of the remaining snowpack on shady slopes. It is increasingly losing its stratification. At high altitudes, there are a few centimetres of soft, moist snow on a largely stable old snowpack. In places, layers of faceted crystals have been preserved deeper in the snowpack at high altitudes exposed to the north.
Tendency
With cooler temperatures, the wet snow problem slowly decreases.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Wet-snow danger all day long
The snowpack can hardly freeze, softens up in morning. The danger of wet-snow avalanches (medium-sized) is heightened already in early morning and rises further due to daytime warming. 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. At all altitudes the snowpack is thoroughly wet.
Tendency
Initially no change. Slopes becoming increasingly bare of snow.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Furthermore, spontaneous wet snow avalanches from undischarged terrain must be taken into account!
The avalanche risk is predominantly moderate where there is still a sufficiently thick snowpack. From steep terrain that has not yet been discharged, spontaneous or moist to wet medium loose snow or slab avalanches triggered by additional loads are possible in all aspects. In the shady, very high elevations, slab avalanches can still be triggered occasionally in very steep terrain due to the old snow problem.
Snowpack
With only limited outgoing longwave radiation, the snow surface can hardly firmness. With the mild temperatures and incoming radiation, it continues to lose firmness during the day. The 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, only at the top and on shady slopes.
Tendency
No significant change in the avalanche situation.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Low avalanche danger, occasional small wet snow slides possible
The avalanche risk is low. As the day warms up, small wet snow slides may occur occasionally, 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
The thin snowpack barely freezes on the surface, softens quickly and loses firmness during the day as it becomes increasingly wet. There is only a little snow left and the snow is melting.
Tendency
Monday will continue to be mild, with often strong southerly winds. The wet snow problem will persist.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Small wet-snow slides possible
Wet loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally, particularly on extremely steep slopes. Avalanches will be mostly small-sized.
Snowpack
South-facing slopes are frequently bare of snow. Where there’s a snowpack on the ground, it’s thoroughly wet.
Tendency
The slopes will continue to become bare of snow.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Small wet snow avalanches in snowy places
The avalanche risk is low. Small, spontaneous wet snow slides can occur from slopes that have not yet been discharged in all aspects. Wet snow slides triggered by winter sports increase the risk of entrainment in the fall terrain.
Snowpack
The outgoing longwave radiation at night is poor and the snow cover remains largely moistened to isothermal due to the warmth. In places, you can still find small pillows of wind drifted snow adjacent to ridgelines, but most of the terrain is already tapped out.
Tendency
Slow reduction in avalanche danger due to melting of the remaining snow.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Increasing deaperisation
The avalanche risk is low. Wet snow is the problem. In extremely steep terrain, occasional wet loose snow avalanches and on steep slopes with smooth ground, wet gliding avalanches can release themselves. Avalanche activity is limited to terrain on shady slopes where there is still snow. Wet avalanches usually remain small.
Snowpack
An overcast sky and temperatures well above zero ensure that the remaining snowpack continues to soak. It consists mainly of snowmelt. The southern sides are largely snowed out.
Tendency
The avalanche danger remains low.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
1800m
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Some wet snow avalanche cannot be ruled out
The snowpack is mostly well connected and generally stable. During the day, wet snow avalanches are possible in places.
Weak layers in old snow deeper in the snowpack also pose a minor danger. These weak layers are more prevalent in the axis above the forest. In particular, a small to medium avalanche can be triggered by a large load exceeding the load-bearing capacity of these layers.
Snowpack
dp.10: springtime scenario
The snowpack will mostly freeze overnight, but less than in recent days due to the warmer night. During the day, the snow will become heavier and may become unstable in places.
In an old snow cover, the snow layers are mostly well connected. More or less deep below the surface, there are several weak layers of slush and discontinuous grains, which are more frequent on slopes at low tide.
Tendency
Monday will be temporarily cloudy. The danger of avalanches will remain relatively low.
