The new snow and wind slabs represent the main danger. Weakly bonded old snow at elevated altitudes.
The large quantity of fresh snow of the last few days and the wind slabs formed by the wind can be released easily, even by a single winter sport participant,. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in steep terrain above the tree line. Caution is to be exercised in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. The avalanche prone locations are sometimes covered with new snow and are difficult to recognise. At elevated altitudes the likelihood of avalanches being released is greater. Natural avalanches are possible. Additionally avalanches can also release deeper layers of the snowpack and reach large size in isolated cases, especially on very steep west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2600 m. On extremely steep slopes more loose snow avalanches are to be expected, even medium-sized ones. In addition in particular in the regions exposed to heavier precipitation, gliding avalanches are possible, especially on steep grassy slopes at intermediate and high altitudes. Caution and restraint are required.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.4: cold following warm / warm following cold
The snowpack will be prone to triggering. Over a wide area 40 to 60 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Wednesday. In some regions 5 to 15 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall on Saturday. As a consequence of the sometimes storm force wind the wind slabs have increased in size once again on Friday. The various wind slabs have bonded poorly together. In some places new snow and wind slabs are lying on soft layers, in particular at elevated altitudes. Faceted weak layers exist in the old snowpack on very steep west, north and east facing slopes, especially above approximately 2600 m on the Main Alpine Ridge. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack and naturally triggered avalanches indicate the unfavourable bonding of the snowpack in the regions exposed to substantial precipitation.
Tendency
Sunday: The new snow and wind slabs remain prone to triggering. Experience and restraint are required.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
New snow
The new snow and wind slabs represent the main danger.
Restraint is advisable on this first sunny day. The fresh snow and the wind slabs formed by the strong wind can be released easily, even by a single winter sport participant,. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in steep terrain above the tree line. At elevated altitudes the likelihood of avalanches being released is greater. Avalanches can reach quite a large size, in the regions exposed to a lot of new snow especially. Individual natural avalanches are not ruled out, in particular on wind-loaded slopes at elevated altitudes. On extremely steep slopes more loose snow avalanches are to be expected, in the event of prolonged bright spells in particular. In addition in particular in the regions exposed to heavier precipitation, individual gliding avalanches are possible. Experience and restraint are required.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.2: gliding snow
The snowpack will be in some cases prone to triggering. Over a wide area 20 to 50 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Wednesday. As a consequence of the sometimes storm force wind the wind slabs have increased in size once again on Friday. The various wind slabs have bonded poorly together. In some places new snow and wind slabs are lying on soft layers, in particular at elevated altitudes. Isolated avalanche prone weak layers exist in the old snowpack on very steep shady slopes, especially at elevated altitudes.
Tendency
Sunday: The new snow and wind slabs remain prone to triggering. Caution and restraint are required.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Fresh wind slabs require caution.
The fresh wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in some cases. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on steep west to north to east facing slopes above approximately 2000 m. Caution is to be exercised adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. At elevated altitudes the likelihood of avalanches being released is greater. Avalanches can reach medium size in isolated cases. On extremely steep slopes individual loose snow avalanches are possible, in the event of prolonged bright spells in particular in all regions.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
Over a wide area 10 to 20 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Wednesday. In some places wind slabs are lying on soft layers, in particular on steep shady slopes at elevated altitudes. As a consequence of the strong wind the wind slabs have increased in size once again on Friday. In some cases the various wind slabs have bonded still only poorly together.
Tendency
Wind slabs remain prone to triggering in particular on shady slopes.
