Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for caution. Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.
As a consequence of new snow and a strong to storm force northwesterly wind, avalanche prone wind slabs will form in all aspects. These can be released even by a single winter sport participant above the tree line. Slopes adjacent to ridgelines are especially unfavourable. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found also in areas close to the tree line. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. The prevalence of avalanche prone locations and likelihood of triggering will increase with altitude. Additionally avalanches can also be released in deep layers. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found on steep, little used shady slopes above approximately 2200 m and on steep sunny slopes above approximately 2500 m.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
On Tuesday the wind will be strong to storm force over a wide area. The fresh and older wind slabs will be deposited on soft layers in all aspects. The more recent wind slabs will be deposited on surface hoar in some places, in particular on the Main Alpine Ridge and to the north. The snowpack will be prone to triggering in some places. Faceted weak layers exist in the old snowpack, especially on shady slopes above approximately 2200 m, as well as on sunny slopes above approximately 2500 m. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack are a clear indication of a weakly bonded snowpack.
Tendency
Fresh wind slabs require caution. As a consequence of a strong wind from northerly directions, further wind slabs will form on Wednesday. The snowpack remains in some cases prone to triggering.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Fresh wind slabs represent the main danger.
In all aspects avalanche prone wind slabs will form. The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs can be released even by a single winter sport participant above approximately 1800 m. Slopes adjacent to ridgelines are especially unfavourable. Avalanche prone locations are to be found also in areas close to the tree line. The prevalence of these will increase with altitude. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
The wind will transport the new snow and, in some cases, old snow as well. The fresh and older wind slabs will be deposited on soft layers in all aspects. They are lying on surface hoar in some places.
Tendency
Fresh wind slabs require caution. As a consequence of a strong wind from northerly directions, further wind slabs will form on Wednesday. The snowpack remains in some cases prone to triggering.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Fresh wind slabs require caution.
The wind will be strong at times. Adjacent to ridgelines as well as at elevated altitudes mostly small wind slabs will form. These can be released by a single winter sport participant in isolated cases. They are to be avoided in very steep terrain. Mostly avalanches are small.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
As a consequence of a gathering strong northerly wind, mostly small wind slabs will form since Monday. The strong wind will transport the loosely bonded old snow. The fresh wind slabs are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack in particular on very steep shady slopes. Hardly any weak layers exist in the old snowpack.
Tendency
The wind slabs are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack in particular on very steep shady slopes.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Fresh wind slabs require caution.
The wind will be strong at times. Adjacent to ridgelines as well as at elevated altitudes mostly small wind slabs will form. These can be released by a single winter sport participant in isolated cases. They are to be avoided in very steep terrain. Mostly avalanches are small.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
As a consequence of a gathering strong northerly wind, mostly small wind slabs will form on Monday. The strong wind will transport the loosely bonded old snow. The fresh wind slabs are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack in particular on very steep shady slopes. Hardly any weak layers exist in the old snowpack.
Tendency
The wind slabs are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack in particular on very steep shady slopes.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Fresh and older wind slabs represent the main danger. Weakly bonded old snow is to be evaluated with care and prudence.
As a consequence of the strong to storm force northwesterly wind, the snow drift accumulations will increase in size on Tuesday. In all aspects avalanche prone wind slabs will form. These can be released even by a single winter sport participant above the tree line. Slopes adjacent to ridgelines are especially unfavourable. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found also in areas close to the tree line. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. The prevalence of avalanche prone locations and likelihood of triggering will increase with altitude. Additionally avalanches can also be released in deep layers. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found on steep, little used shady slopes above approximately 2200 m and on steep sunny slopes above approximately 2500 m.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
The strong wind will transport the new snow and, in some cases, old snow as well. The fresh wind slabs will be deposited on soft layers in all aspects. They are lying on surface hoar in some places, in particular on the Main Alpine Ridge and to the north. Faceted weak layers exist in the old snowpack, especially on shady slopes above approximately 2200 m, as well as on sunny slopes above approximately 2500 m.
Tendency
Fresh wind slabs require caution. As a consequence of a strong wind from northerly directions, further wind slabs will form on Wednesday. The snowpack remains in some cases prone to triggering.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.
As a consequence of the strong northerly wind, snow drift accumulations will form. The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs must be evaluated with care and prudence. They can be released even by a single winter sport participant above the tree line. Slopes adjacent to ridgelines are especially unfavourable. Additionally avalanches can also be released in deep layers. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found on steep, little used shady slopes above approximately 2200 m and on steep sunny slopes above approximately 2500 m. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
The wind will transport the loosely bonded old snow. Faceted weak layers exist in the old snowpack, especially on shady slopes above approximately 2200 m, as well as on sunny slopes above approximately 2500 m.
Tendency
Fresh wind slabs require caution. As a consequence of a strong wind from northerly directions, further wind slabs will form on Tuesday. The snowpack remains in some cases prone to triggering.
