Avalanche.report

Friday 15.01.2021

Published15 01 2021, 08:00


Danger level


Avalanche Problem
New snow
Persistent weak layer
Treeline


A dangerous avalanche situation will be encountered over a wide area.

More natural avalanches are possible. In the event of solar radiation this applies on wind-loaded slopes as well as.
As a consequence of the strong to storm force northwesterly wind, fresh snow drift accumulations formed during the last few days, also in areas close to the tree line, as well as below the tree line. These are in some cases quite large. Avalanches can in many places be released very easily and reach dangerously large size. Remotely triggered avalanches are to be expected. Slides are to be expected on cut slopes.
Naturally triggered avalanches and avalanches triggered by explosives confirm a dangerous avalanche situation. Great caution and restraint are important.

Snowpack

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

Over a wide area 50 to 100 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Wednesday in all altitude zones. The old snowpack is faceted and its surface consists of surface hoar. The sometimes storm force wind has transported the fresh and old snow significantly. The brittle wind slabs are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack and stability tests confirm the existence of a weak snowack.

Tendency

A dangerous avalanche situation will be encountered over a wide area.


Danger level

treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
Treeline
New snow


A critical avalanche situation will be encountered over a wide area.

The new snow and wind slabs are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack, also in areas close to the tree line, as well as below the tree line. Avalanches can in many places be released very easily and reach medium size. Remotely triggered avalanches are to be expected.
Natural avalanches are possible. In the event of solar radiation this applies on wind-loaded slopes as well as. Slides can occur on cut slopes.
Backcountry touring calls for great caution and restraint.

Snowpack

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

30 to 50 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Wednesday in all altitude zones. The sometimes storm force wind has transported the fresh and old snow significantly. The old snowpack is faceted and its surface consists of surface hoar. The brittle wind slabs are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack and stability tests confirm the unfavourable bonding of the snowpack.

Tendency

A critical avalanche situation will be encountered over a wide area.


Danger level

treeline
Avalanche Problem
New snow
Treeline
Wind-drifted snow
Treeline


A dangerous avalanche situation will be encountered over a wide area.

More natural avalanches are to be expected. This applies in all aspects above the tree line, as well as in areas close to the tree line. Avalanches can be triggered in the faceted old snow and reach a dangerous size. Slides are to be expected on cut slopes.
As a consequence of the strong northerly wind, fresh snow drift accumulations will form, also at low and intermediate altitudes. These are in some cases quite large. Avalanches can in many places be released very easily and reach dangerously large size.
Naturally triggered avalanches and avalanches triggered by explosives confirm a dangerous avalanche situation. Great caution and restraint are important.

Snowpack

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

Over a wide area 40 to 60 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen in all altitude zones. The wind has transported the new snow significantly. In some places new snow and wind slabs are lying on surface hoar. The old snowpack is faceted and has faceted crystals on the surface. The brittle wind slabs are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack.

Tendency

A dangerous avalanche situation will be encountered over a wide area.


Danger level

treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
Treeline
Wind-drifted snow
Treeline


Wind slabs represent the main danger.

The new snow and wind slabs are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack in particular on steep shady slopes, also in areas close to the tree line, as well as below the tree line. Avalanches can be triggered in the faceted old snow and reach medium size in some cases. Avalanches can additionally be released on cut slopes.
Backcountry touring calls for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger.

Snowpack

dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold
dp.8: surface hoar blanketed with snow

Over a wide area 10 to 30 cm of snow has fallen. The sometimes storm force wind has transported the new snow and, in some cases, old snow as well. In some places new snow and wind slabs are lying on a weakly bonded old snowpack, in particular on shady slopes.

Tendency

New snow and wind slabs are to be assessed with care and prudence.


Danger level

treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
Treeline


A dangerous avalanche situation will prevail. New snow and wind slabs represent the main danger.

The new snow and wind slabs are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack in all aspects, also in areas close to the tree line, as well as below the tree line. Avalanches can be triggered in the faceted old snow and reach large size in isolated cases. Natural avalanches are possible.
As a consequence of the sometimes strong wind the wind slabs will increase in size additionally as the day progresses. Avalanches can in many places be released very easily and reach large size in isolated cases. In the regions neighbouring those that are subject to danger level 4 (high) the avalanche danger is higher.
In addition a latent danger of gliding avalanches exists.
Backcountry touring calls for great caution and restraint.

Snowpack

dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold
dp.8: surface hoar blanketed with snow

Over a wide area 10 to 30 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen, in particular in the north and in the northwest. In the southeast a little new snow. The sometimes storm force wind has transported the new snow and, in some cases, old snow as well. The brittle wind slabs are lying on unfavourable layers in all aspects. Over a wide area new snow and wind slabs are lying on surface hoar.
Precarious weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack.

Tendency

The avalanche conditions are to some extent precarious. New snow and wind slabs are to be assessed with care and prudence.


Danger level

treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
Treeline


A dangerous avalanche situation will prevail. The new snow and wind slabs remain prone to triggering.

The new snow and wind slabs are prone to triggering in all aspects. This applies above the tree line, as well as in areas close to the tree line. As a consequence of the sometimes strong wind the wind slabs will increase in size additionally as the day progresses. Avalanches can in many places be released easily and reach medium size.
Additionally in isolated cases avalanches can be released in deep layers. Backcountry touring calls for great caution and restraint.

Snowpack

dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
dp.8: surface hoar blanketed with snow

5 to 10 cm of snow has fallen since Wednesday. The strong wind has transported the fresh and old snow significantly. The brittle wind slabs are lying on unfavourable layers.
Isolated avalanche prone weak layers exist in the top section of the snowpack.

Tendency

Outside marked and open pistes a dangerous avalanche situation will prevail.


Danger level

1600m
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
1600m
Persistent weak layer
1600m


Wind slabs represent the main danger.

The new snow and wind slabs are prone to triggering in all aspects above the tree line. Avalanches can in many places be released easily and reach medium size.
Avalanches can additionally be released in deeper layers also. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible. Especially places where surface hoar has been covered with snow are treacherous. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm indicating the danger.
In addition a latent danger of gliding avalanches exists.
Backcountry touring calls for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger. Meticulous route selection is important.

Snowpack

dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
dp.8: surface hoar blanketed with snow

The strong wind has transported some snow. The brittle wind slabs are poorly bonded with the old snowpack.
Precarious weak layers exist in the top section of the snowpack. As a consequence of low temperatures the snowpack can not consolidate.

Tendency

Hardly any decrease in avalanche danger.