Avalanche.report

Tuesday 14 January 2025

Published 13 Jan 2025, 17:00:00


Danger level

treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
Treeline


Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.

Avalanches can be released in the weakly bonded old snow. These avalanche prone locations are to be found especially on steep west, north and east facing slopes above the tree line, caution is to be exercised in particular in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow, as well as at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack can indicate the danger. Avalanches can reach medium size.

The extensive wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in all aspects. Avalanches can reach quite a large size especially in shady places that are protected from the wind. At high altitude and in the regions exposed to heavier precipitation the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent.

Snowpack

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

As a consequence of a strong wind from northerly directions, further wind slabs formed in the last three days in particular in gullies and bowls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. The older wind slabs are lying on soft layers in particular on steep northwest, north and east facing slopes.
Precarious weak layers exist deep in the old snowpack especially on shady slopes.

Tendency

Until Wednesday the weather will be clear. The weather conditions will facilitate a slow stabilisation of the snow drift accumulations. Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow are to be critically assessed.


Danger level

treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
Treeline


Wind slabs require caution. Weak layers in the old snowpack necessitate caution.

The fresh and older wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in particular on west to north to east facing aspects. This also applies in isolated cases on steep sunny slopes at elevated altitudes.

Avalanches can release deeper layers of the snowpack and reach medium size.

Avalanches can be released in the weakly bonded old snow by a single winter sport participant. These avalanche prone locations are to be found especially on steep west, north and east facing slopes above the tree line, caution is to be exercised in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack can indicate the danger.

Snowpack

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

As a consequence of a strong to storm force wind from northeasterly directions, avalanche prone wind slabs formed in particular in gullies and bowls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. The fresh and older wind slabs are lying on soft layers in particular on steep west, north and east facing slopes.

Faceted weak layers exist deep in the old snowpack especially on shady slopes.

Tendency

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow are to be assessed with care and prudence. The weather conditions will prevent a rapid stabilisation of the snow drift accumulations.


Danger level

2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m


Wind slabs require caution.

As a consequence of a sometimes strong northeasterly wind, further wind slabs formed in particular in gullies and bowls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. The fresh wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in particular on west to north to east facing aspects above approximately 2200 m. Caution is to be exercised on near-ridge slopes.

Snowpack

dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind

As a consequence of the occasionally strong northeasterly wind, fresh snow drift accumulations formed. The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are lying on soft layers in particular on shady slopes above approximately 2200 m.

Tendency

Fresh wind slabs require caution. The weather conditions will prevent a rapid stabilisation of the snow drift accumulations.


Danger level

treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline


Fresh wind slabs require caution.

Avalanches can in some cases be released by a single winter sport participant, in particular on shady slopes above the tree line. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain.

Mostly avalanches are rather small. 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.

In the regions neighbouring those that are subject to danger level 3 (considerable) the avalanche danger is a little higher.

Snowpack

dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind

As a consequence of a strong to storm force wind from northeasterly directions, sometimes avalanche prone wind slabs will form in particular in gullies and bowls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. The wind slabs will be deposited on soft layers in particular on steep west, north and east facing slopes.

Faceted weak layers exist in the old snowpack especially on shady slopes.

The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations over a wide area. Only a little snow is lying.

Tendency

Wind slabs require caution. The weather conditions will facilitate a slow stabilisation of the snow drift accumulations.


Danger level

treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline


Fresh wind slabs require caution.

Avalanches can be released by a single winter sport participant. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack can indicate the danger, in particular on very steep shady slopes at elevated altitudes. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain.

Mostly avalanches are rather small. 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

As a consequence of a strong wind from northerly directions, dangerous wind slabs formed in the last few days in particular in gullies and bowls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. The older wind slabs are lying on soft layers in particular on steep northwest, north and east facing slopes.
Individual weak layers exist deep in the old snowpack especially on shady slopes.
The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations over a wide area.
In these regions only a little snow is lying.

Tendency

Until Wednesday the weather will be clear. The weather conditions will facilitate a slow stabilisation of the snow drift accumulations. Wind slabs require caution.


Danger level

2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m


The fresh and older wind slabs of the last few days represent the main danger.

As a consequence of a sometimes strong wind from northeasterly directions, further wind slabs formed in particular in gullies and bowls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. The fresh wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in all aspects above approximately 2200 m. Caution is to be exercised on near-ridge slopes. In little used backcountry terrain the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent. Transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack are especially unfavourable.

Small and, in isolated cases, medium-sized gliding avalanches are possible.

Snowpack

dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
dp.2: gliding snow

As a consequence of the occasionally strong northeasterly wind, fresh snow drift accumulations formed. The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are lying on soft layers in particular on west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2200 m.

Faceted weak layers exist in the old snowpack in particular above approximately 2400 m.

Tendency

Wind slabs require caution. The weather conditions will prevent a rapid stabilisation of the snow drift accumulations.


Danger level

2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
Persistent weak layer
2400m


Wind slabs are to be evaluated critically. Weak layers in the lower part of the snowpack necessitate caution.

The fresh and older wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in particular on west to north to east facing aspects. This also applies in isolated cases on steep sunny slopes at elevated altitudes. Caution is to be exercised in particular on near-ridge slopes above approximately 2200 m. Shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack indicate the danger.

Avalanches can additionally in some places be released in the weakly bonded old snow. These avalanche prone locations are to be found especially on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2400 m, caution is to be exercised in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. Avalanches can reach medium size.

Snowpack

dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
dp.1: deep persistent weak layer

As a consequence of the occasionally strong northeasterly wind, fresh snow drift accumulations will form. The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are lying on soft layers in particular on west to north to east facing aspects above approximately 2200 m.

Faceted weak layers exist in the old snowpack in particular above approximately 2400 m.

Tendency

The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are in some cases prone to triggering. The weather conditions will prevent a rapid stabilisation of the snow drift accumulations.