Danger level
 | treeline |
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Weakly bonded old snow requires caution.
Weak layers in the old snowpack can be released in isolated cases by winter sport participants in particular in little used terrain. Avalanches can in some cases penetrate deep layers and reach large size. The avalanche prone locations are barely recognisable, even to the trained eye.
Avalanche prone locations for dry avalanches are to be found in particular on steep west, north and east facing slopes above the tree line, in isolated cases also on steep shady slopes in areas close to the tree line.
As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation individual wet loose snow slides are possible as the day progresses, especially on very steep sunny slopes.
Snowpack
dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
Above the tree line snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations at elevated altitudes.
The barely recognisable wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on west to north to east facing aspects above the tree line. This also applies in isolated cases on south facing slopes in high Alpine regions. The weather conditions will foster a stabilisation of the snowpack.
Steep sunny slopes below approximately 2600 m: As a consequence of mild temperatures and solar radiation a crust will form on the surface during the night. Low and intermediate altitudes: The old snowpack is moist and its surface consists of loosely bonded snow lying on a crust that is strong in many cases. This applies in particular on shady slopes.
Tendency
Weakly bonded old snow requires caution.
