Avalanche.report

Tuesday 18 February 2025

Published 17 Feb 2025, 17:00:00


Danger level

2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
Persistent weak layer
2400m


Caution: freshly generated snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering in places

Fresh drifts require attentiveness in high-altitude ridgeline and pass areas, they can be released by one sole skier and are mostly small-sized. The risks of being swept along and forced to take a fall deserve adequate consideration. Weak layers in the old snow can be triggered in steep shady terrain above 2400m, esp. in transitions from shallow to deeper snow and in zones where the snow is shallow. On very steep sunny slopes, moist slides and small loose-snow avalanches are possible. The danger of small, in isolated cases medium-sized glide-snow avalanches is still difficult to assess. Caution urged below glide cracks.

Snowpack

The below-average snowpack is well consolidated by and large. In high altitude pass and rigeline zones, small fresh, often trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations require attentiveness, esp. on steep shady slopes these drifts have been deposited. On sunny slopes the most recent snowfall is already moist and is forming a melt-freeze crust. During the daytime hours, this crust softens up again. On shady steep slopes at high altituds there are weak layer evident in the lower part of the snowpack.

Tendency

Ground-level weak layers at high altitudes often remain prone to triggering


Danger level

2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
Gliding snow


Caution: freshly generated snowdrift accumulations

Fresh drifts require attentiveness in high-altitude ridgeline and pass areas, they can be released by one sole skier and are mostly small-sized. Frequency and size of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude. The snowdrifts can be triggered as a small slab avalanche. Apart from the danger of being buried in snow masses, the risks of being swept along and being forced to take a fall require adequate consideration. The danger of small, in isolated cases medium-sized glide-snow avalanches is still difficult to assess. Caution urged below glide cracks.

Snowpack

The below-average snowpack is well consolidated by and large. In high altitude pass and rigeline zones, small fresh, often trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations require attentiveness, esp. on steep shady slopes these drifts have been deposited. On sunny slopes the most recent snowfall is already moist and is forming a melt-freeze crust. During the daytime hours, this crust softens up again.

Tendency

Avalanche danger levels will slowly recede.


Danger level

2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Wind slab
2200m


Caution: isolated weak layers prone to triggering. Heed drifts.

Weak layers in the old snow can be triggered in many cases by one sole skier on steep W/N/E facing slopes above 2200m. Caution in transitions from shallow to deeper snow, e.g. at entry points into gullies and bowls, releases can reach medium size. Due to northerly winds, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations were generated in gullies, bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape. They can be triggered by one sole skier in the weak old snow, esp. on NW/N/E facing slopes above 2200m. Danger zones are generally small-sized and can be triggered in isolated cases, they increase in frequency with ascending altitude. Apart from the danger of being buried in snow masses, the risks of being swept along and forced to take a fall require adequate consideration.

Snowpack

dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind

In the lowermost part of the snowpack there are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers, esp. on W/N/E facing slopes. The fresh snowdrift accumulations lie deposited atop an unfavorable old snowpack surface in high-alpine zones. Highly varied snow depths, depending on wind impact.

Tendency

Fresh snowdrifts need to be cautiously assessed. Pay attention to weak layers in old snowpack.


Danger level

2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Wind slab
2200m


Hidden persistent weak layer problem

Avalanche danger above 2200m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. In few places, an avalanche can be triggered by one sole skier as a slab avalanche. Danger zones are nearly impossible to recognize, most critical behind protruberances in the landscape and in gullies and bowls. Fresh drifts on some ridgeline slopes can be easily triggered as a small slab. The wind-loaded zones are easily recognized, watch out for the risks of falling. On very steep sunny slopes, small loose-snow avalanches are possible. Isolated small naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches are possible.

Snowpack

Atop a hardened crust (or else, bare ground) 10-30 cm of loosely-packed snow lie deposited, often wind impacted. On shady slopes at high altitudes the fresh snow from Friday has also been deposited atop loose snow or surface hoar. The fundament on steep shady slopes at high altitudes is expansively metamorphosed. Atop a hardened crust (or else, bare ground) 10-30 cm of loosely-packed snow lie deposited, often wind impacted. On shady slopes at high altitudes the fresh snow from Friday has also been deposited atop loose snow or surface hoar. The fundament on steep shady slopes at high altitudes is expansively metamorphosed.

Tendency

No significant change in danger levels anticipated


Danger level

2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m


Weak layers in the old snow can trigger in isolated cases

Weak layers in the old snow can be triggered in many cases by one sole skier on NW/N/NE facing slopes esp. above 2000m. Caution in transitions from shallow to deeper snow, e.g. at entry points into gullies and bowls. Due to fresh snow and northerly winds, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations were generated in gullies, bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape. Avalanches can reach medium size.

Snowpack

dp.1: deep persistent weak layer

At mid-level inside the snowpack, esp. on N/NW/NE facing slopes where the snow is shallow, faceted, espansively metamorphosed weak layers are evident. The snowpack is highly diverse even over small areas. Not much snow on the ground for this juncture of the season.

Tendency

Assess weak layers with caution


Danger level



Heed fresh snowdrifts. Isolated danger zones in gullies and bowls.

Fresh snowdrift accumulations are mostly small, triggerable only in isolated cases, esp. on wind-protected shady slopes at high altitude. Caution urged in transitions into gullies and bowls. These danger zones occur seldom. Apart from the danger of being buried in snow masses, the risks of being swept along and forced to take a fall require adequate consideration.

Snowpack

Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations have been deposited on top of an unfavorable old snowpack surface. Snowpack highly varied over small areas. Not much snow on the ground for this juncture of the season.

Tendency

Pay attention to fresh snowdrifts


Danger level



Predominantly stable conditions, only isolated danger zones

Avalanche danger is low. Snowdrifts can be triggered by mostly large additional loading in the old snow, esp. in transitions from shallow to deep snow on steep shady slopes at high altitudes.

Snowpack

Nocturnal outgoing short-wave radiation is generating a melt-freeze crust on sunny slopes. On the shady side, the snowpack surface is loose and powdery. More deeply embedded insdie the snowpack are isolated weak layers. Elsewhere the snowpack is stable. The old snowpack is thoroughly moist, wet at ground level in places. South-facing slopes are becoming increasingly bare of snow.

Tendency

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly


Danger level



Snowpack

Tendency


Danger level

1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m


Only few danger zones

Avalanche danger is low. Isolated triggerings are possible in extremely steep terrain. In high-altittude pass and ridgeline zones, small-area fresh drifts require attentiveness. They are often prone to triggering but small sized. The danger of being swept along and forced to take a fall outweighs that of being buried in snow masses. The risk of small glide-snow avalances continues to be difficult to assess. Caution urged below glide cracks.

Snowpack

The below-average snowpack is well consolidated by and large. In high altitude pass and rigeline zones, small fresh, often trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations require attentiveness, esp. on steep shady slopes these drifts have been deposited. On sunny slopes the most recent snowfall is already moist and is forming a melt-freeze crust. During the daytime hours, this crust softens up again.

Tendency

Avalanche danger levels not expected to change significantly


Danger level



Favorable situation

Avalanche danger is low. Triggering a small slab is possible in only few places, most endangered are shady slopes in very steep terrain above 2000m. In isolated cases a small glide-snow avalanche is possible. Isolated small naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches possible.

Snowpack

Atop a melt-freeze crust (or else, bare ground) loosely-packed snow lies deposited. Surface hoar has often been blanketed. On sunny slopes the snow is sticky. The fundament on shady steep slopes is often weak, but the weak layer is varied and the slab shallow.

Tendency

No significant change in danger levels anticipated


Danger level

1900m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1900m


Caution: snowdrift accumulations in shady areas!

Still low avalanche danger. Danger spots can be located in high altitudes in the expositions north to east and behind ridgelines. There slab avalanches and driftsnow accumulations could be triggered in extremly steep slopes by high additional loads.

Snowpack

In high altitudes small amounts of snowdrift accumulations have formed which partially are on top of faceted snow which can be considered as weak layer or they are on top of a hard surface. Blown-off areas are hard and icy. The kinetic metamorphosis weakens the snow base.

Tendency

On Wednesday increasing influence of a high pressure system and sunny mountain weather is expected. Temperatures will be milder. The avalanche danger is not significantly changing.


Danger level

2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m


Freshly generated snowdrifts prone to triggering in isolated cases

Avalanche danger is low. Snowdrifts can be problematic at high altitudes. Small slab avalanches can be triggered by minimum additional loading. Avalanche prone locations are found in steep ridgeline terrain in N-E aspects and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls.

Snowpack

Nocturnal outgoing short-wave radiation is generating a melt-freeze crust on sunny slopes. On the shady side the snowpack surface is powdery.Isolated freshly-generated snowdrifts at high altitudes are prone to triggering. Older drifts have consolidated. Inside the snowpack at high altitudes there are still layers of faceted crystals, unlikely to trigger. At intermediate altitudes the old snowpack is thoroughly moist, wet at the ground in places.

Tendency

Fresh drifts will consolidate, avalanche danger levels not expected to change


Danger level

1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Persistent weak layer
2000m


Snowpack

Tendency