Rapid decreasing firmness with exposure to sunlight
The avalanche risk is moderate. In a few places, spontaneous or artificially triggered wet loose snow avalanches are possible, in particular from very steep terrain below around 2600 metres where there is still snow on the ground. In wet snow, avalanches can tear through to the ground, reach medium size and, if the terrain is unfavourable, advance into the green.
Above around 2400 m, there are still individual avalanche prone locations in the west and north-east aspects, as well as in the southern sector in the high Alps, where slab avalanches can be triggered in persistent weak layers. Take care on the steep transitions from little to lots of snow.
Snowpack
Limited outgoing longwave radiation at night limits the surface cold reserve. Above around 2200 m there is 5 to 15 cm of settled new fallen snow. The snowpack below consists of compact snow that is characterised by rain up to high altitudes. Softer layers are embedded, especially in the higher altitudes, which allow breaks near the surface. 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. Low altitudes and sunny slopes at medium altitudes are mostly snowed out.
Tendency
After a clear night, daytime changes in wet avalanche activity on Thursday.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Wet snow remains the main danger
The avalanche risk is moderate. Spontaneous wet snow avalanches are possible where there is still a lot of snow, i.e. mainly on shady slopes at high altitudes and partly on eastern and western slopes. Avalanches can occur spontaneously with strong incoming radiation or be triggered by winter sports and reach medium size. In unfavourable terrain, avalanches can also penetrate into the green.
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 2400 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 altitudes and sunny slopes at medium altitudes are mostly covered in snow.
Tendency
After a clear night, daytime changes in wet avalanche activity on Thursday.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Small, spontaneous wet snow avalanches during the daytime changes
The avalanche risk is low. In very few places in the terrain, small wet slab avalanches or loose snow avalanches are possible due to additional load or spontaneously. This increases the risk of avalanches in the fall terrain.
Snowpack
There is still snow in shady locations or at high altitudes, but sunny steep terrain often no longer has a large area of continuous snowpack up to at least medium altitudes or is already snowed out. The snow surface is sometimes thinly crusted in the morning and softens quickly in the morning.
Tendency
After a mostly clear night, the crust will soften during the day changes on Thursday.
