15 to 30 cm of new fallen snow with wind on a weak old snowpack! Tricky situation for winter sports in open terrain!
The avalanche risk is considerable above around 1800 metres. Medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered by individuals in some places, especially from west to north to east. Fractures can tear through the poorly built-up persistent weak layer. The avalanche prone locations are barely recognisable and should be assessed defensively. Remote triggering is possible in isolated cases. Take particular care in the transition from a little to a lot of snow and in the snow-covered entrance areas of gullies and bowls.
Snowpack
The often bound snow layer (board) lies on a poorly built up old snowpack. Fractures can occur within the old snowpack, which often consists of a sequence of melt-freeze crusts and angular forms or deep rime. In addition, existing weak layers (covered surface hoar) can be disturbed at the transition from the overlay to the old snowpack.
Tendency
The avalanche situation is only slowly improving.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Persistent weak layer
Wind slab on weak persistent layer
The avalanche risk is moderate above around 1800 metres. Pillows of wind drifted snow can be triggered in a few places, especially in steep terrain exposed to the east. In the northern and eastern exposures, there is also still a persistent weak layer problem at altitudes above the tree line. If the old snowpack is torn through, the avalanches can sometimes reach medium size. Caution in the area of terrain traps.
Sunny slopes can release wet slides from very steep slopes.
Snowpack
A layer of snow of varying thickness (largest in the Totes Gebirge) or thin pillows of wind drifted snow cover a partly very variable and mostly hard old snowpack. There is significantly more snow in shady gullies and bowls than on sunny slopes, some of which are partly bare up to 2000 metres. In the northern and eastern exposures, the snowpack continues to be weakened by layers with faceted crystals and floating snow, and the persistent weak layer problem remains.
Tendency
No significant change in avalanche danger.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Beware of persistent weak layers!
The avalanche risk is assessed as moderate above around 1800 metres and low below that. There is still a persistent weak layer problem in the northern and eastern exposures. In addition, in a few places, older snowdrift accumulations can be triggered as small slab avalanches by low additional loads. Medium-sized slab avalanches are also possible when breaking through the weak old snowpack. The danger areas are mainly located in the transition from little to more snow as well as behind terrain edges and in the entrance area of gullies and bowls. The avalanche prone locations are often difficult to recognise.
Snowpack
Older wind slab snow is still prone to triggering in higher, steeper areas due to weak layers such as snow-covered surface hoar. There is significantly more snow in shady gullies and bowls than on sunny slopes. In the northern and eastern exposures, the old snowpack continues to be weakened by crusts and layers with faceted crystals and floating snow; the persistent weak layer problem remains. There is still significantly less snow than average.
Tendency
Thick patches of high fog will persist below 2000 metres, particularly on the southern side of the Alps. On the northern side of the Alps, these may clear in foehn-like southerly winds. No significant change in the avalanche danger.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Low avalanche danger with mostly little snow.
The avalanche risk is low. Small slab avalanches can be triggered in a few places at high altitudes in steep gullies and bowls. Avalanche prone locations are covered by a thin layer of snow and are often difficult to recognise. In general, the risk of entrainment, falling and injury outweighs the risk of burial. However, be careful in the area of terrain traps.
Snowpack
There is still little snow. The snowpack is damp or crusted can form in places. In the higher elevations, however, angular snow crystals are still weakening the stability on shady slopes. Above this, in the extended eastern sector, there may also be a thin, bound layer, which in some cases is not well bonded to the old snowpack.
Tendency
No significant change in avalanche danger.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Low avalanche danger, but persistent weak layer problems in the northern and eastern exposures!
The avalanche risk is low. In the northern and eastern exposures, there is still a persistent weak layer problem at altitudes above the tree line. In the steep terrain exposed to the north and east, the bound layer can be triggered in a few places. However, even if the old snowpack is torn through, the avalanches remain small. In general, the risk of entrainment, falling and injury outweighs the risk of burial. However, be careful in the area of terrain traps.
Sunny slopes can release wet slides from very steep slopes.
Snowpack
There is still significantly less snow than average. A thin layer partially covers a very variable and mostly hard old snowpack. There is significantly more snow in shady gullies and bowls than on sunny slopes, some of which are partly bare up to 2000 metres. In the northern and eastern exposures, the snowpack continues to be weakened by layers with faceted crystals and floating snow down to the foundations, and the persistent weak layer problem remains.
