Avalanche.report

Tuesday 18.01.2022

Published 17 01 2022, 17:00


Danger level

treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
Treeline


Fresh wind slabs require caution.

The fresh wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence in steep terrain. As a consequence of new snow and a sometimes strong wind from northerly directions, mostly small wind slabs formed at elevated altitudes. The small quantity of fresh snow as well as the wind slabs to be found above all adjacent to risgelines and in gullies and bowls are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack on very steep, little used shady slopes above the tree line. In very isolated cases avalanches can be triggered in the faceted old snow and reach medium size. Caution is to be exercised in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow.
Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised as well in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls.

Snowpack

dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
dp.4: cold following warm / warm following cold

In some regions 10 to 15 cm of snow has fallen. Since Monday the wind has been strong to storm force over a wide area. The wind will transport the fresh and old snow. The fresh wind slabs are lying on weak layers in particular on very steep shady slopes above the tree line. As a consequence of mild temperatures and solar radiation the snow drift accumulations stabilised.
In very isolated cases weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack. This applies in particular on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2400 m.
At elevated altitudes snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind.

Tendency

Fresh wind slabs require caution.


Danger level

2400m
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
2400m


Fresh wind slabs require caution.

As a consequence of a sometimes strong wind from northerly directions, mostly small wind slabs formed since Monday at elevated altitudes. The fresh wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence in steep terrain. The avalanche prone locations are to be found on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2400 m and in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. In very isolated cases avalanches can be triggered in the old snow and reach medium size. Caution is to be exercised in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow.
Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised as well in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls.

Snowpack

dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
dp.4: cold following warm / warm following cold

Since Monday the wind has been strong to storm force over a wide area. Some snow will fall. The wind has transported the fresh and old snow. The fresh wind slabs are lying on soft layers in particular on west to north to east facing aspects above approximately 2400 m.
The old snowpack will be generally well bonded. In very isolated cases weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack. This applies in particular on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2400 m.
At elevated altitudes snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. On sunny slopes below approximately 2200 m only a little snow is lying.

Tendency

Fresh wind slabs require caution.


Danger level

treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
Treeline


Fresh wind slabs require caution.

As a consequence of a sometimes strong wind from northerly directions, mostly small wind slabs formed on Monday at elevated altitudes. The fresh wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence in steep terrain. The avalanche prone locations are to be found on very steep shady slopes and in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. This applies in particular above the tree line. In very isolated cases avalanches can be triggered in the faceted old snow and reach medium size. Caution is to be exercised in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow.
Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised as well in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls.

Snowpack

dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
dp.4: cold following warm / warm following cold

On Monday the wind was moderate to strong over a wide area. The wind has transported the fresh and old snow. The fresh wind slabs will be deposited on soft layers in particular on west to north to east facing aspects above the tree line.
In very isolated cases weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack. This applies in particular on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2400 m.
At elevated altitudes snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind.

Tendency

Fresh wind slabs require caution.


Danger level

2400m
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
2400m
Persistent weak layer
2400m


A widespread favourable avalanche situation will prevail. Fresh wind slabs require caution.

As a consequence of a sometimes strong wind from northerly directions, mostly small wind slabs formed in the last few days at elevated altitudes. These avalanche prone locations are to be found on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2400 m and in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. The fresh wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence in steep terrain. In very isolated cases avalanches can be triggered in the faceted old snow and reach medium size. Caution is to be exercised in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow.
Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised as well in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls.

Snowpack

As a consequence of mild temperatures and solar radiation the snowpack settled. For those venturing off piste a low avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area. Field observations and stability tests have confirmed a widespread favourable avalanche situation.
The sometimes strong wind has transported the loosely bonded old snow. The wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence in very steep terrain.
In very isolated cases weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack. This applies in particular on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2400 m.
At elevated altitudes snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. On sunny slopes below approximately 2200 m only a little snow is lying.

Tendency

A widespread favourable avalanche situation will prevail.


Danger level

2400m
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
2400m


A widespread favourable avalanche situation will prevail. Fresh wind slabs require caution.

As a consequence of a sometimes strong wind, mostly small wind slabs formed since Monday at elevated altitudes. The fresh wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence in particular in steep terrain. In very isolated cases avalanches can be triggered in the old snow and reach medium size. Caution is to be exercised in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2400 m and in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain.
Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised as well in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls.

Snowpack

dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind

The snowpack is well consolidated. Field observations and stability tests have confirmed a widespread favourable avalanche situation.
Since Monday the wind has been strong to storm force over a wide area. The wind has transported the loosely bonded old snow. The fresh wind slabs are lying on soft layers in particular on west to north to east facing aspects above approximately 2400 m.
In very isolated cases weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack. This applies in particular on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2400 m.
At elevated altitudes snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. Over a wide area less snow than usual is lying.

Tendency

A widespread favourable avalanche situation will prevail. Fresh wind slabs require caution.