Avalanche.report Thursday 20 02 2020

Regions
Eastern Pfunderer Mountains, Durreck Range, Western Rieserferner Mountains, Val Müstair Alps, Langtaufers, Ortler Range, Schnals Ridge, Southern Stubai Alps, Venediger Range, Southern Zillertal Alps and High Tauern, Eastern Rieserferner Mountains, Saldurn-Mastaun Ridge, Glockner Range, Texel Mountains, Western Pfunderer Mountains

Danger level
Danger Level 2 - Moderate above 2200m
Danger Level 1 - Low above 2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow above 2200m, N-NE-E-SE-S-NW
Persistent weak layer above 2800m, N-NE-E-W-NW

Fresh wind slabs require caution, in particular at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions.

Fresh and somewhat older wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in some cases in particular on northwest to north to south facing aspects above approximately 2200 m. In some cases avalanches are medium-sized. These avalanche prone locations are clearly recognisable to the trained eye.
Weakly bonded old snow: In isolated cases avalanches can be released in the old snowpack and reach dangerously large size. Caution is to be exercised in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack in little used backcountry terrain.

Snowpack

dp 6: cold, loose snow and wind

Some snow has fallen in some regions. The fresh and older wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence on steep shady slopes at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions. Faceted weak layers exist in the old snowpack. The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations. In steep terrain there is a danger of falling on the hard snow surface.

Tendency

The backcountry touring conditions are generally favourable. The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are mostly small and can only be released in isolated cases. In some cases relatively hard layers of snow are lying on old snow containing large grains. Faceted weak layers exist deep in the snowpack in particular in shady places that are protected from the wind. The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations. On south and southwest facing slopes thus far only a little snow is lying in all altitude zones.

Regions
Sexten Dolomites, Latemar, Southern Adamello, Sarntal Alps, Adamello - Presanella, Northern Brenta - Peller, Bondone and Stivo, Folgaria - Laverone, Southern Brenta, Southern Lagorai, Northern Lagorai, Maddalene, Pine' - Mocheni Valley, Western Deferegger Alps, Ulten Valley, Eastern Nonsberger Alps, Northern Dolomites of Fiemme, Gröden Dolomites, Primiero - Pale di S. Martino, Eastern Deferegger Alps, Prags Dolomites, Prealps, Schober Mountains, Cembra Valley, Lienzer Dolomites, Vallarsa, Western Nonsberg Alps, Fassa Valley, Sole, Pejo and Rabbi, Ledro Valley, Paganella, Marzola - Valsugana

Danger level
Danger Level 1 - Low
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow above 2400m, N-NE-E-SE-NW

The old snowpack will be generally stable. Wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence.

The rather small wind slabs have bonded quite well with the old snowpack. These can only be released by large loads in most cases. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on northwest to north to southeast facing wind-loaded slopes above approximately 2400 m, especially in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. These places are clearly recognisable to the trained eye.
In steep terrain there is a danger of falling on the hard snow surface.

Snowpack

dp 6: cold, loose snow and wind

The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are mostly small and can only be released in isolated cases. In some cases relatively hard layers of snow are lying on old snow containing large grains. Faceted weak layers exist deep in the snowpack in particular in shady places that are protected from the wind. The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations. On south and southwest facing slopes a little snow is lying in all altitude zones.

Tendency

The backcountry touring conditions are generally favourable.