Avalanche.report Friday 31 01 2020

Regions
Eastern Pfunderer Mountains, Durreck Range, Weißkugel Range, Western Rieserferner Mountains, Val Müstair Alps, Gurgler Range, Langtaufers, Central Stubai Alps, Ortler Range, Schnals Ridge, Northern Zillertal Alps, Southern Stubai Alps, Venediger Range, Southern Zillertal Alps and High Tauern, Northern Oetz and Stubai Alps, Eastern Rieserferner Mountains, Saldurn-Mastaun Ridge, Western Tuxer Alps, Glockner Range, Texel Mountains, Eastern Tuxer Alps, Western Pfunderer Mountains, Glockturm Range, Grieskogel Mountains

Danger level
Danger Level 3 - Considerable above the treeline
Danger Level 2 - Moderate above the treeline
Avalanche Problem
New snow, N-NE-E-SE-S-SW-W-NW
Wind-drifted snow, N-NE-E-W-NW

Fresh snow and wind slabs in all aspects.

The backcountry and freeriding conditions remain to some extent unfavourable. As a consequence of fresh snow and a strong to storm force northwesterly wind, extensive wind slabs formed in particular in the regions exposed to heavier precipitation. It is lying on soft layers in particular on west to north to east facing aspects above the tree line. Fresh snow and wind slabs can in some places be released, even by a single winter sport participant and reach medium size. These avalanche prone locations are covered with fresh snow and are therefore barely recognisable, even to the trained eye.
Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack can indicate the danger. In highly frequented off-piste terrain and below the tree line the situation is a little more favourable.
Significant warming to high altitudes: As a consequence of warming, the likelihood of loose snow avalanches being released will increase significantly on very steep sunny slopes. In addition as the day progresses an increasing number of mostly small natural dry avalanches are possible. A latent danger of gliding avalanches exists, in particular on steep grassy slopes below approximately 2200 m.

Snowpack

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

The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations above the tree line, in particular adjacent to ridgelines. The fresh snow and wind slabs are lying on soft layers, especially on wind-protected shady slopes above the tree line as well as in areas close to the tree line. In some places relatively hard layers of snow are lying on old snow containing large grains.

Tendency

Outside marked and open pistes a sometimes unfavourable avalanche situation will prevail.

Regions
Sexten Dolomites, Latemar, Western Deferegger Alps, Ulten Valley, Eastern Nonsberger Alps, Northern Dolomites of Fiemme, Gröden Dolomites, Southern Adamello, Primiero - Pale di S. Martino, Eastern Deferegger Alps, Prags Dolomites, Sarntal Alps, Adamello - Presanella, Schober Mountains, Northern Brenta - Peller, Lienzer Dolomites, Western Nonsberg Alps, Southern Brenta, Fassa Valley, Sole, Pejo and Rabbi, Northern Lagorai, Maddalene

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
Wet snow above 2500m, SE-S-SW-W-NW

Fresh wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence. As a consequence of warming during the day the avalanche prone locations will become more prevalent as the day progresses.

The more recent wind slabs can still be released in particular on steep shady slopes above the tree line. As a consequence of warming during the day individual small and, in isolated cases, medium-sized moist and wet avalanches are possible. They can be released in the weakly bonded old snow in particular in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow. In particular transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack where weaknesses exist in the old snowpack are precarious. These places are sometimes covered with fresh snow but are clearly recognisable to the trained eye.

Snowpack

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

The strong wind has transported the fresh snow significantly. Especially above the tree line sometimes easily released wind slabs formed. The fresh snow and wind slabs of the last two days are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack in particular on shady slopes. Faceted weak layers exist in the old snowpack in particular here. At high altitudes and in high Alpine regions the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent.

Tendency

Gradual increase in danger of dry and moist avalanches as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation.