Update of the avalanche report for Saturday 21 December 2024.

Fresh snowdrifts are the main danger

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. This in all aspects. 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 above the treeline can be easily triggered even by one single winter sports enthusiast and grow to medium size. Slab avalanches can often fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack and grow to large size. Danger zones occur particularly behind protruberances in the landscape, in gullies and blows and on wind-loaded slopes. These have been covered by fresh snow in many places, making them difficult to recognize. Whumpf noises and glide-cracks when the snowpack is stepped on are signals of danger. At low and intermediate altitudes on steep grass-covered slopes, small glide-snow avalanches are possible.

And now the snowpack:

Since yesterday there has been 40-45cm of fresh snow registered in the barrier cloud regions, elsewhere 25-30cm. Due to strong-to-storm strength W/NW winds there has been wide-reaching transport. During the daytime due to brisk-to-strong NW winds, and tomorrow W/SW winds, additional trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations have been generated and will continue to be. The drifts lie deposited atop a weak old snowpack on high-altitude shady slopes, on sunny slopes often atop a thin melt-freeze crust. Weak layers can occur on high altitude slopes where the old snowpack was previously loose and also inside the snowdrifts themselves. During the daytime, in addition, graupel showers will pass through. At low altitudes the fresh snow and drifts lie deposited atop a moistened old snowpack surface with better consolidation.

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

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