Avalanche.report

Monday 06 01 2020

Published 05 01 2020, 17:00

Regions
Latemar, Southern Adamello, Primiero - Pale di S. Martino, Adamello - Presanella, Prealps, Northern Brenta - Peller, Cembra Valley, Bondone and Stivo, Vallarsa, Western Nonsberg Alps, Folgaria - Laverone, Southern Brenta, Fassa Valley, Sole, Pejo and Rabbi, Southern Lagorai, Ledro Valley, Northern Lagorai, Maddalene, Paganella, Marzola - Valsugana, Pine' - Mocheni Valley


Danger level
Danger Level 2 - Moderate above the treeline
Danger Level 1 - Low above the treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow above the treeline, N-NE-E-SE-S-SW-W-NW
Gliding snow above 2200m, SE-S-SW-W-NW


Moderate, level 2. Wind slabs require caution, especially adjacent to ridgelines. Weakly bonded old snow is to be evaluated with care and prudence, in particular on very steep sunny slopes at the base of rock walls.

The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are mostly easy to recognise but to be assessed with care and prudence. Even single persons can release avalanches in isolated cases, including medium-sized ones, in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas. The avalanche prone locations are to be found also at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack above approximately 2200 m. Off-piste activities call for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger and careful route selection. In steep terrain there is a danger of falling on the icy crust. Backcountry touring calls for great caution and restraint, in particular on very steep shady slopes. As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation individual mostly small gliding avalanches and moist snow slides are possible.

Snowpack

The wind slabs have formed in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. These are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack in particular on steep shady slopes at high altitude. Faceted weak layers exist deep in the old snowpack in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow, especially at high altitude on steep northeast, north and northwest facing slopes. The surface of the snowpack will freeze to form a strong crust and will soften during the day. The snowpack will be moist at low and intermediate altitudes.

Tendency

A latent danger of ground avalanches exists, in particular on steep grassy slopes below approximately 2200 m.

Regions
Sexten Dolomites, Eastern Pfunderer Mountains, Durreck Range, Western Rieserferner Mountains, Val Müstair Alps, Western Deferegger Alps, Langtaufers, Ortler Range, Schnals Ridge, Southern Stubai Alps, Ulten Valley, Southern Zillertal Alps and High Tauern, Eastern Nonsberger Alps, Northern Dolomites of Fiemme, Saldurn-Mastaun Ridge, Gröden Dolomites, Texel Mountains, Prags Dolomites, Sarntal Alps, Western Pfunderer Mountains


Danger level
Danger Level 2 - Moderate above the treeline
Danger Level 1 - Low above the treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer above 2200m, N-NE-E-NW
Wind-drifted snow above the treeline, N-NE-E-SE-S-SW-W-NW


Wind slabs above the tree line. Fresh wind slabs are to be avoided.

The fresh wind slabs are to be avoided above approximately 2000 m. Single backcountry tourers can release avalanches in some places. Mostly they are rather small. The older wind slabs can still be released. Caution is to be exercised at their margins in particular. Avalanches can be released in the old snowpack and reach large size in isolated cases. This applies in particular adjacent to ridgelines.

Snowpack

The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations over a wide area. In some cases the wind slabs have bonded still only poorly with each other and the old snowpack. They are to be found in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls and at high altitudes. In little used backcountry terrain the avalanche situation is a little more dangerous.

Tendency

The avalanche danger will persist. The weather will be mostly sunny.

Regions
Western Verwall Mountains, Eastern Verwall Mountains, Silvretta, Samnaun Mountains, Northern Oetz and Stubai Alps, Western Tuxer Alps, Eastern Tuxer Alps, Western Kitzbühel Alps, Eastern Kitzbühel Alps, Glockturm Range, Weißkugel Range, Gurgler Range, Central Stubai Alps, Northern Zillertal Alps, Allgäu Alps, Venediger Range, Eastern Lechtal Alps - Ammergau Alps, Mieming Mountains, Eastern Rieserferner Mountains, Karwendel Mountains, Glockner Range, Eastern Deferegger Alps, Brandenberg Alps, Wilder Kaiser Mountains - Waidring Alps, Schober Mountains, Lienzer Dolomites, Western Lechtal Alps, Central Lechtal Alps, Grieskogel Mountains


Danger level
Danger Level 2 - Moderate above the treeline
Danger Level 1 - Low above the treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow above the treeline, N-NE-NW


Wind slabs represent the main danger.

Wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence above the tree line. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on northwest to north to northeast facing wind-loaded slopes. Mostly avalanches are only small but can be released easily even by a single winter sport participant. The wind slabs are clearly recognisable to the trained eye.
Dry avalanches can in very isolated cases be released in the old snowpack, mostly by large additional loads, in particular on very steep shady slopes. Transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack are unfavourable.
Moist loose snow slides are possible in the second half of the day in isolated cases, in particular on extremely steep sunny slopes. In addition a latent danger of gliding avalanches exists.

Snowpack

dp 6: cold, loose snow and wind
dp 5: snowfall after a long period of cold

5 to 20 cm of snow, and up to 30 cm in some localities, fell. The sometimes storm force wind has transported the fresh and old snow. In some places wind slabs are lying on old snow containing large grains, in particular on shady slopes. It is lying on surface hoar in some places on shady slopes at low and intermediate altitudes.
Faceted weak layers exist deeper in the old snowpack in particular in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow, especially on very steep shady slopes.

Tendency

Gradual decrease in danger of dry avalanches as a consequence of warming. Slight increase in danger of gliding avalanches and moist snow slides in particular on steep sunny slopes.