Avalanche.report

Tuesday 16.02.2021

Published 15 02 2021, 17:00


Danger level

treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
Treeline


Wind slabs require caution.

Wind slabs can as before be released, even by a single winter sport participant, but they will be small in most cases. Caution is to be exercised in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls above the tree line. Avalanches can in very isolated cases penetrate deep layers and reach large size.
A latent danger of gliding avalanches exists. Areas with glide cracks are to be avoided as far as possible.

Snowpack

dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind

The various wind slabs have bonded poorly together. As a consequence of rising temperatures the snow drift accumulations will stabilise during the next few days.
Faceted weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack in particular above the tree line. This applies in all aspects.
Towards its base, the snowpack is moist and its surface has a melt-freeze crust, in particular at low and intermediate altitudes.

Tendency

The avalanche danger will persist.


Danger level

1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
1800m


Wind slabs require caution.

The small wind slabs of the last few days remain for the foreseeable future prone to triggering above the tree line. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. These places are sometimes covered with new snow.
Weak layers in the old snowpack can still be released in very isolated cases by individual winter sport participants. This applies at high altitude, in particular in the Western Kitzbühel Alps.

Snowpack

dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind

Over a wide area 5 to 10 cm of snow will fall. The sometimes strong wind will transport the new snow. In some cases the various wind slabs have bonded still only poorly together. As a consequence of rising temperatures the snow drift accumulations will stabilise during the next few days. Individual weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack. At low altitude a little snow is lying.

Tendency

Slight increase in avalanche danger as a consequence of new snow and strong wind.


Danger level

1600m
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
1600m
Persistent weak layer
2000m


Wind slabs represent the main danger.

As a consequence of new snow and a moderate to strong wind from westerly directions, easily released wind slabs will form. The older wind slabs can still be released by a single winter sport participant, but they will be small in most cases. These places are sometimes covered with new snow and are therefore difficult to recognise. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain above approximately 1600 m. The prevalence of avalanche prone locations and likelihood of triggering will increase with altitude.
Dry avalanches can additionally in isolated cases be released in the weakly bonded old snow by small loads, especially at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example on very steep slopes. These avalanche prone locations are barely recognisable, even to the trained eye. They are to be found in particular on west to north to east facing aspects above approximately 2000 m.

Snowpack

dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
dp.7: snow-poor zones in snow-rich surrounding

Over a wide area 5 to 10 cm of snow will fall. The fresh and older wind slabs are lying on soft layers above approximately 1600 m.
Avalanche prone weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack, especially between approximately 2000 and 2400 m on steep west, north and east facing slopes.

Tendency

As a consequence of new snow and a sometimes strong northwesterly wind, further wind slabs will form.