Avalanche.report Tuesday 07 01 2020

Regions
Southern Adamello, Primiero - Pale di S. Martino, Adamello - Presanella, Northern Brenta - Peller, Southern Brenta, Fassa Valley, Sole, Pejo and Rabbi, Southern Lagorai, Northern Lagorai, Latemar, Paganella

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. Gliding snow is to be evaluated with care and prudence, in particular on very steep sunny slopes at the base of rock walls.

Fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are easy for the trained eye to recognise and can be released easily especially at their margins. 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. In particular in starting zones where no previous releases have taken place at any time medium-sized and, in isolated cases, large gliding avalanches and moist snow slides are possible below approximately 2200 m.

Snowpack

The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are to be found in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls in all aspects and at elevated altitudes. 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 old 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, Val Müstair Alps, Langtaufers, Schnals Ridge, Southern Stubai Alps, Southern Zillertal Alps and High Tauern, Saldurn-Mastaun Ridge, Texel Mountains, Sarntal Alps, Western Pfunderer Mountains, Bondone and Stivo, Folgaria - Laverone, Maddalene, Pine' - Mocheni Valley, Eastern Pfunderer Mountains, Durreck Range, Western Rieserferner Mountains, Western Deferegger Alps, Ortler Range, Ulten Valley, Eastern Nonsberger Alps, Northern Dolomites of Fiemme, Gröden Dolomites, Prags Dolomites, Prealps, Cembra Valley, Vallarsa, Western Nonsberg Alps, Ledro Valley, Marzola - Valsugana

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

Fresh wind slabs require caution.

The fresh wind slabs must be evaluated with care and prudence in particular on very steep west, north and southeast facing slopes above approximately 2200 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. In steep terrain there is a danger of falling on the hard crust.

Snowpack

The storm force wind has transported the fresh and old snow significantly. 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.

Tendency

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