Outside marked and open pistes a dangerous avalanche situation will prevail. Dry slab avalanches are the main danger. This applies adjacent to ridgelines in all aspects.
Field observations and stability tests confirm the complex avalanche situation at elevated altitudes. The danger exists primarily in alpine snow sports terrain. The avalanche prone locations are widespread. They are sometimes covered with new snow and are barely recognisable, even to the trained eye. They are currently prevalent immediately adjacent to the pistes as well. Avalanches can in many places be released, even by a single winter sport participant. Caution is to be exercised in all aspects in areas close to the tree line, as well as above the tree line. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible. Natural avalanches are possible as a consequence of the sometimes strong wind, especially on wind-loaded slopes above the tree line. In some cases avalanches are large. Gliding avalanches can also occur. This applies on steep grassy slopes below approximately 2400 m. Great caution and restraint are required.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
Over a wide area 15 to 30 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen. The wind was strong to storm force over a wide area, in particular at elevated altitudes. The fresh and older wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in all aspects at elevated altitudes. As a consequence of the sometimes strong wind the wind slabs will increase in size once again until Sunday. Faceted weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack, in particular on shady slopes in areas close to the tree line, as well as above the tree line, also on steep sunny slopes at elevated altitudes. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack indicate the unfavourable bonding of the snowpack.
Tendency
As a consequence of mild temperatures and the occasionally moderate wind, the snow drift accumulations will stabilise during the next few days. The snowpack remains prone to triggering in some places. The conditions are precarious for winter sport activities outside marked and open pistes. As a consequence of rising temperatures the snowpack will settle.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
Treeline
Wind-drifted snow
Treeline
Fresh wind slabs are to be evaluated critically.
The fresh and older wind slabs are prone to triggering in all aspects. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls, in particular in areas close to the tree line, as well as above the tree line. Such avalanche prone locations are widespread. They are sometimes covered with new snow and are therefore difficult to recognise. Avalanches can be released, even by a single winter sport participant and reach medium size. Dry avalanches can additionally in isolated cases be released in deeper layers. This applies in the south, especially on very steep shady slopes in areas close to the tree line, as well as above the tree line. Experience in the assessment of avalanche danger is required.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.2: gliding snow
Over a wide area 5 to 10 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen. The fresh wind slabs are lying on soft layers. As a consequence of the strong wind the wind slabs will increase in size once again. Isolated avalanche prone weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack on shady slopes. This applies in the south, in particular at elevated altitudes.
Tendency
As a consequence of mild temperatures and the occasionally moderate wind, the snow drift accumulations will stabilise during the next few days. The wind slabs remain in some cases prone to triggering.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Wind-drifted snow
Treeline
A precarious avalanche situation will persist in some cases.
The fresh and older wind slabs are prone to triggering. Even single winter sport participants can release avalanches. Caution is to be exercised in all aspects in areas close to the tree line, as well as above the tree line. The avalanche prone locations are sometimes covered with new snow and are difficult to recognise. They are currently prevalent immediately adjacent to the pistes as well. Isolated natural avalanches are possible as a consequence of the strong northerly wind, in particular at elevated altitudes on wind-loaded slopes. Avalanches can in some places be released in the weakly bonded old snow, especially in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow. Avalanches can reach large size in isolated cases. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack indicate poor snowpack stability. In the regions with a lot of snow individual gliding avalanches are possible. Extensive experience in the assessment of avalanche danger and great restraint are required.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold
In some cases the various wind slabs have bonded poorly with each other and the old snowpack. As a consequence of the strong to storm force northerly wind, fresh snow drift accumulations will form on Sunday. Faceted weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack, in particular on shady slopes above the tree line, as well as on sunny slopes at elevated altitudes. Field observations and snow profiles confirm the complex avalanche situation. Some snow will fall in the evening in the north and in the northeast.
Tendency
The snowpack remains prone to triggering. The meteorological conditions will foster a slow strengthening of the near-surface layers.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Wind-drifted snow
Treeline
New snow and wind slabs are to be critically assessed. In gullies and bowls a sometimes critical avalanche situation will prevail.
Avalanches can be released, even by small loads in isolated cases, but they will be small in most cases. Caution is to be exercised in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example at elevated altitudes, as well as on wind-loaded slopes above the tree line. The avalanche prone locations are sometimes covered with new snow and are therefore barely recognisable, even to the trained eye. At elevated altitudes the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent and larger. Individual natural avalanches are possible as the day progresses, but they will be mostly small. This applies in particular on wind-loaded slopes.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
The wind will be strong over a wide area, in particular at elevated altitudes. As a consequence of the strong wind the wind slabs will increase in size additionally. The fresh and older wind slabs are to be avoided in particular in very steep terrain. Faceted weak layers exist in the bottom section of the snowpack, in particular on shady slopes in areas close to the tree line, as well as above the tree line. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack indicate the unfavourable bonding of the snowpack.
Tendency
As a consequence of low temperatures and the strong wind, the snowpack can not consolidate. The snowpack will become prone to triggering over a wide area. The conditions are precarious for winter sport activities outside marked and open pistes.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Wind-drifted snow
Treeline
A precarious avalanche situation will persist in some cases.
The fresh and older wind slabs are prone to triggering. Even single winter sport participants can release avalanches. Caution is to be exercised in all aspects in areas close to the tree line, as well as above the tree line. The avalanche prone locations are sometimes covered with new snow and are difficult to recognise. They are currently prevalent immediately adjacent to the pistes as well. Isolated natural avalanches are possible as a consequence of the strong northerly wind, in particular at elevated altitudes on wind-loaded slopes. Avalanches can in some places be released in the weakly bonded old snow, especially in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow. Avalanches can reach large size in isolated cases. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack indicate poor snowpack stability. Extensive experience in the assessment of avalanche danger and great restraint are required.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold
In some cases the various wind slabs have bonded poorly with each other and the old snowpack. As a consequence of the strong to storm force northerly wind, fresh snow drift accumulations will form on Sunday. Faceted weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack, in particular on shady slopes above the tree line, as well as on sunny slopes at elevated altitudes. Field observations and snow profiles confirm the complex avalanche situation.
Tendency
The snowpack remains prone to triggering. The meteorological conditions will foster a slow strengthening of the near-surface layers.
