Avalanche.report

Saturday 16.01.2021

Published15 01 2021, 17:00


Danger level


Avalanche Problem
New snow
Persistent weak layer
Treeline


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

Great caution and restraint are important.
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 northwesterly wind the already large wind slabs will increase in size additionally. Avalanches can in many places be released very easily and reach dangerously large size. Remotely triggered avalanches are to be expected, this also applies in areas close to the tree line, as well as below the tree line. Avalanches are to be expected also on cut slopes.

Snowpack

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

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 northwesterly wind will transport the new snow. The brittle wind slabs are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack. As a consequence of low temperatures the snowpack can settle hardly at all. 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.

Backcountry touring calls for great caution and restraint.
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, also on cut slopes.
Natural avalanches are possible. In the regions exposed to a lot of wind this applies in particular.

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. As a consequence of low temperatures the snowpack can not consolidate. 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
Wind-drifted snow
Treeline
New snow


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

Great caution and restraint are important.
The new snow and wind slabs are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack in all aspects. Avalanches can in many places be released very easily and reach dangerously large size. More natural avalanches are possible. In the event of solar radiation this applies in particular on wind-loaded slopes as well as.
As a consequence of the strong wind the already large wind slabs will increase in size once again. Caution is to be exercised also below the tree line. The avalanche prone locations are covered with new snow and are difficult to recognise. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible.
Slides are to be expected on cut slopes.

Snowpack

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

Over a wide area 40 to 100 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Wednesday. The old snowpack is faceted; its surface is loosely bonded and consists of surface hoar and faceted crystals. The strong wind will transport the new snow and, in some cases, old snow as well. 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 avalanches triggered by explosives confirm poor snowpack stability.

Tendency

A dangerous avalanche situation will persist in some regions. Caution and restraint are important.


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

As a consequence of the northwesterly wind the wind slabs will increase in size additionally. In some places new snow and wind slabs are lying on a weakly bonded old snowpack, in particular on shady slopes. As a consequence of low temperatures the snowpack can settle hardly at all.

Tendency

Wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence.


Danger level

1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
1800m
Persistent weak layer
Treeline


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

Caution and restraint are important.
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 in many places be released very easily 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. The avalanche prone locations are covered with new snow and are difficult to recognise. 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.

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 since Wednesday, in particular in the north and in the northwest. In the southeast a little new snow. The old snowpack consists of faceted crystals; its surface is loosely bonded and consists of surface hoar and faceted crystals. 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.
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.