Update of the avalanche report for Saturday 21 December 2024.

Slab avalanches in the snowdrifts can fracture down to deeper weak snowpack layers

all day it applies above the treeline considerable avalanche danger, so danger level three, below low avalanche danger, so danger level one.

all day, above the treeline, we have a wind slab problem. Especially in the aspects North-West to North to South-East. Furthermore, all day, above 2200 meter, we have a persistent weak layer problem. Especially in the aspects West to North to East.

Avalanche danger above the treeline is considerable, below that altitude danger is low. Snowdrift accumulations are the main problem. Slab avalanches of medium size can in some places b e triggered even by minimum additional loading, i.e. the weight of one person. In some places above 2200m they can fracture down to deeper weak layers in the old snow and thereby grow to large size. Danger zones can be difficult to recognize due to diffuse light conditions. They occur also distant from ridgelines and on slopes in NW/N/SE aspects. On the Main Alpine Ridge, danger. zones occur in all aspects. In some places, the snowdrifts have been blanketed over, making them difficult to recognize.

And now the snowpack:

The fresh fallen snow has been heftily transported. Inside the fresh snow, short-lived weak layers are forming near the surface. At high altitudes the fresh snow is falling atop a generatlly wind-compressed snowpack surface where the bonding is good. IAbove 2000m the fresh snow and drifts have often been deposited atop faceted crystals near crusts, in some places surface hoar has been blanketed on shady, wind-protected slopes above the treeline. Deeper down inside the old snowpack fundament there are soft layers lodged between hard layers at high altitudes. At low and intermediate altitudes the old snowpack beneath the fresh fallen snow is melt-freeze encrusted. The entire snowpack can start to glide over steep rock plates or grassy slopes.

The tendency for Sunday 22 December 2024 indicates an increasing avalanche danger.

Have a nice day and don't forget to be careful!