Danger level

3000m

Wet snow		3000m
Persistent weak layer		2400m

Naturally triggered avalanches possible from early in the morning

The avalanche risk is considerable below 3000 metres and moderate above that. Large spontaneous wet snow avalanches are possible. Particularly at risk are steep areas in the extended northern sector between 2200 m and 2600 m, terrain that has not yet been discharged on high east, west and south-facing slopes, and generally those aspects where there is still a lot of snow. In wet snow, avalanches can tear through to the ground, run untypically far and penetrate into the green. Above around 2400 m, in the steep terrain from west to north to east, there are individual avalanche prone locations in the dry persistent weak layer, high alpine also in the southern sector. Take care in the transitions from little to lots of snow. Above 2200m, fresh wind slab forms with the snowfall. Mostly small avalanches can be triggered there in places by slight additional load, be aware of the risk of falling.

Snowpack

Reduced outgoing longwave radiation at night prevents the formation of a stable melt-freeze crust. The snowpack consists of compact snow that is characterised by rain up to high altitudes, but softer layers are embedded, especially at higher altitudes, which enable near-surface fractures. On shady slopes from around 2400 metres, there are still weak layers of angular forms and deep rime in the old snowpack close to the ground. The snowpack is moist to wet up to high altitudes. Low and sunny slopes are snowed out.

Tendency

The outgoing longwave radiation at night is limited and it is slightly cooler. The danger of wet avalanches remains.

Danger level

2500m

Wet snow		2500m
Persistent weak layer		2500m

Rising wet-snow avalanche danger due to rainfall

Snowfall above 2300m accompanied by brisk westerly winds, thus transporting it. Frequency and magnitude of danger zones will increase with ascending altitude. In addition, winter sports enthusiasts can trigger isolated avalanches in near-surface weak layers on high-altitude shady slopes. Such danger zones are impossible to recognize. Due to daytime warming and rainfall initially up to 2300m, danger of wet-snow avalanches will increase in morning hours. Wet slab avalanches can be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts. Also isolated naturally triggered wet-snow avalanches are possible. Caution urged above all towards steep shady slopes at 2200-2500m which have not yet discharged and generally slopes in aspects where there is still area-wide snow on the ground. Avalanches can fracture in weak old snowpack layers, in isolated cases grow to large size and have atypically long runout zones. Whumpf noises and breaking through the surface crusts of old snow are indicators of danger. On snowy, steep slopes with smooth underground (such as grass-covered slopes and rock plates) which have not yet discharged, glide-snow avalanches can trigger in all aspects.

Snowpack

In evening hours, outgoing radiation will still be effective, but during nighttime hours due to heavy cloud cover, increasingly limited. In early morning hours, rain showers will set in up to 2300m. As showers increase, the snowfall level will drop to about 1800m during the day. At 1800-2500m the ground-level rotten snow is thoroughly wet and prone to triggering, also on north-facing slopes. Lower altitudes are already bare of snow. On sunny slopes the round is becoming bare of snow up to high altitudes. Iin high-altitude, shady steep terrain there are unfavorable intermediate layers in the uppermost layer of the snowpack which can, in places, be triggered. A deep mid-level sector of the snowpack consists of compact layers blanketing a fundament of buried hoar and faceted crystals.

Tendency

Wet-snow avalanche activity will recede as temperatures drop

Danger level

Wet snow
Persistent weak layer		2200m

Reduced outgoing longwave radiation at night, soaking through rain during the day

The avalanche risk is moderate. Spontaneous wet snow avalanches are possible where there is still a lot of snow, i.e. on shady slopes at higher altitudes and on the remaining eastern and western slopes. 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. Uncharacteristically long run-out lengths threaten open terrain. Trigger points for dry old snow avalanches are only present in a few high-altitude locations in the extended northern sector. Above 2200m, fresh wind slab forms with the snowfall. Mostly small avalanches can be triggered there in places by slight additional load, be aware of the risk of falling.

Snowpack

Reduced outgoing longwave radiation at night prevents the formation of a stable melt-freeze crust. The snowpack consists of compact snow characterised by rain, but on shady slopes from around 2200 metres there are still weak layers of deep frost in the old snowpack close to the ground. The snowpack is moist to wet up to high altitudes. Low and sunny slopes are snowed out.

Tendency

The outgoing longwave radiation at night is limited and it is slightly cooler. The danger of wet avalanches remains.

Danger level

Wet snow

Moderate avalanche danger due to lack of outgoing longwave radiation and precipitation

Due to the partly cloudy night, the snowpack cannot consolidate sufficiently, so the avalanche risk is already moderate in the morning hours. With increasing warming and the onset of rain, there will be further destabilisation. Wet loose snow and slab avalanches can be triggered spontaneously from terrain that has not yet been unloaded, as well as by small additional loads from individuals, and usually reach small to medium size. Gliding avalanches are also possible in isolated cases.

Snowpack

The snowpack can only consolidate slightly during the night due to partly cloudy conditions. As it warms up and precipitation falls, it will quickly soften further and become increasingly moist. As soaking progresses, the snowpack loses firmness in all aspects, and weak layers in the persistent weak layer can be reactivated, especially on the north side. The snow can begin to glide on smooth surfaces. The snow cover is rapidly thinning out.

Tendency

The new week will bring changeable and sometimes very windy April weather. A few centimetres of new fallen snow in the form of showers will only accumulate at higher altitudes. The wet snow problem remains dominant despite a slight cooling.

Danger level

Wet snow
Persistent weak layer		2200m

Wet snow problem due to rain showers up to higher altitudes!

The avalanche risk is moderate at altitudes with a sufficiently thick snowpack. From undischarged steep terrain, spontaneous or occasional small to medium wet snow avalanches triggered by people are possible due to rain in all aspects up to higher altitudes. Snow slabs could only be triggered in high alpine and very steep terrain on shady slopes, in some cases by low additional loads.

Snowpack

The snowpack cannot firmness on the surface overnight due to frequent cloud cover and possible showers. Due to rain during the day, it is soft, soaked or soaked through to the higher elevations and has little firmness. In the interior, it is already damp to wet up to high altitudes anyway, so it is unstable and will continue to degrade. There is only some new fallen snow high up in the Alps. There are only isolated weak layers in the old snowpack at high alpine elevations. Low and medium altitudes are often already covered in snow.

Tendency

As it cools down, the danger of wet snow avalanches decreases somewhat. There is a moderate risk of avalanches in places.

Danger level

Wet snow
Gliding snow
Persistent weak layer		1800m

Spring diurnal cycles, possibility of triggering gliding avalanches.

The Old snow cover is mostly well connected and stable, with the exception of some shady areas above 1800 m. Gliding avalanches are possible.

Snowpack

dp.10: springtime scenario

On a clear night, the surface of the snowpack will thinly freeze. It will soon dry out in the morning and remain soft into the night. Sunny slopes are already quite dry even in the high alpine regions. 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 discontinuous grains, which are more frequent on the axial slopes above 1800 m.

Tendency

Sunday morning will be sunny, clouding up by mid-day.

Danger level

Wet snow

Wet-snow danger in very steep terrain where there is still lots of snow

Snowfall above 2300m accompanied by brisk westerly winds, thus transporting it. Due to daytime warming and rainfall initially up to 2300m, danger of wet-snow avalanches will increase in morning hours. Wet slab avalanches can be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts. Also isolated naturally triggered wet-snow avalanches are possible. Caution urged above all towards steep shady slopes at 2200-2500m which have not yet discharged and generally slopes in aspects where there is still area-wide snow on the ground. Avalanches can fracture in weak old snowpack layers, in isolated cases grow to large size and have atypically long runout zones. Whumpf noises and breaking through the surface crusts of old snow are indicators of danger. On snowy, steep slopes with smooth underground (such as grass-covered slopes and rock plates) which have not yet discharged, glide-snow avalanches can trigger in all aspects.

Snowpack

In evening hours, outgoing radiation will still be effective, but during nighttime hours due to heavy cloud cover, increasingly limited. In early morning hours, rain showers will set in up to 2300m. As showers increase, the snowfall level will drop to about 1800m during the day. The snowpack is thoroughly wet up to summit zones in all aspects. Lower altitudes are bare of snow. Sunny slopes are becoming bare of snow up to high altitudes.

Tendency

Wet-snow avalanche activity will recede as temperatures drop

Danger level

1600m

Wet snow		1600m
Wet snow		1600m
Persistent weak layer		2200m

Avalanche prone locations are predominantly in the northern exposures.

The avalanche risk is moderate above 1600 metres. Wet snow is the main problem. Wet loose snow avalanches can detach themselves in extremely steep terrain. On a few steep slopes with smooth ground, such as meadow slopes or rock slabs, wet gliding avalanches can occur. Avalanches are mainly to be expected on the northern slopes and reach medium size. In isolated cases, persistent weak layers can be problematic on the north side at high altitudes. On very steep slopes, medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered by individuals.

Snowpack

Initially, rain falls up to around 2200 metres, with the snowfall level dropping during the day. The snow falls on a moist snow surface and bonds well with it. Only in areas adjacent to the ridgeline, crest or summit can smaller snow packs form. The old snowpack is generally soaked up to high altitudes and consists mainly of snowmelt. In places, layers of faceted crystals can still be found deep in the snowpack at high altitudes exposed to the north. On the south side, the little snow falls widely on apery ground.

Tendency

It gets cooler. The activity of wet avalanches decreases.

Danger level

Wet snow

Low avalanche danger, occasional small wet snow slides possible

The avalanche risk is low. There may be isolated small wet snow slides in all aspects, especially from multiple starting zones that are not yet fully discharged. With the onset of precipitation, the avalanche risk increases slightly during the day, but remains low overall. The risk of entrainment in the fall terrain outweighs the risk of burial.

Snowpack

The thin snowpack can only consolidate a little overnight and is quickly softened further during the day by warming temperatures and the onset of precipitation. There is only a little snow left and the sunny slopes are usually already snowed out.

Tendency

The new week will bring changeable and sometimes very windy April weather. A few centimetres of new fallen snow in the form of showers will only accumulate at higher altitudes. The avalanche risk remains low.

Danger level

Wet snow

Small wet-snow slides possible

On extremely steep slopes, persons can in isolated cases trigger wet loose-snow slides where there is still sufficient snow on the ground.

Snowpack

In evening hours, outgoing radiation will still be effective, but during nighttime hours due to heavy cloud cover, increasingly limited. In early morning hours, rain showers will set in up to 2300m. As showers increase, the snowfall level will drop to about 1800m during the day. The snowpack is thoroughly wet. Lower altitudes are bare of snow. Sunny slopes are becoming bare of snow up to high altitudes. Where there is a snowpack on the ground it is thoroughly wet.

Tendency

Wet-snow avalanche activity will recede as temperatures drop

Danger level

Wet snow

Wet avalanches are only to be expected in a few places.

The avalanche risk is low. Wet snow can be problematic in rare cases. Occasionally, wet loose snow avalanches or wet gliding avalanches on slippery ground can detach themselves in extremely steep terrain. Avalanche activity is largely limited to on shady slopes and very to extremely steep terrain with sufficient snow. Wet avalanches usually remain small.

Snowpack

It rains most of the time and the water content of the already wet snowpack increases further. The snow loses firmness. Only at higher altitudes does some snow fall, which comes to rest on a wet, previously patchy snowpack on the north side and on a loose base on the south side.

Tendency

The avalanche danger is not changing. Wet avalanches are becoming increasingly rare.

Danger level

Wet snow

Low avalanche danger!

The avalanche risk is low. Only on steep slopes at higher altitudes with a sufficiently thick snowpack are small, sometimes medium, wet snow avalanches possible during the day in all aspects due to rain.

Snowpack

The snowpack cannot firmness on the surface overnight due to frequent cloud cover and possible showers. Due to rain during the day, it is soft, soaked or soaked through to the higher elevations and has little firmness. In the interior, it is already damp to wet up to high altitudes anyway, making it unstable. Low and medium altitudes are often covered in snow.

Tendency

As the weather cools down, the danger of wet snow avalanches decreases somewhat.

Danger level

Wet snow

Small, spontaneous wet snow avalanches are possible in snowy places

The avalanche risk is low. The last remnants of snow can spontaneously descend as small wet snow slides. This increases the risk of avalanches in the fall terrain.

Snowpack

There is still a little snow in places at altitude, but most of the terrain is already snowed out. The snow surface is soft from early in the morning.

Tendency

Slow reduction in avalanche danger due to melting of the remaining snow.