The current avalanche situation calls for careful route selection.
The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in some cases.
Wind-loaded slopes where weaknesses exist in the old snowpack are unfavourable. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on little used shady slopes above approximately 1800 m. Avalanche prone locations are to be found also on sunny slopes in high Alpine regions. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase with altitude. On very steep shady slopes the avalanches can penetrate down to the ground and reach large size.
Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger and careful route selection.
The weather conditions will give rise to increasing consolidation of the snowpack.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.9: graupel blanketed with snow
The more recent wind slabs are poorly bonded with the old snowpack. Precarious weak layers exist in the centre of the old snowpack in particular on little used shady slopes.
The solar radiation will give rise as the day progresses to increasing softening of the snowpack on sunny slopes. Increase in danger of moist snow slides in particular in steep rocky terrain.
Below the tree line a little snow is lying.
Tendency
Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution. Increase in danger of moist avalanches as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Wind slab
2400m
Weakly bonded old snow requires caution. Fresh wind slabs at elevated altitudes.
Shady slopes: Avalanches can in some places be released by a single winter sport participant. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on little used slopes above approximately 2200 m and in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase with altitude. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found also on sunny slopes in high Alpine regions. Avalanches can in some cases release deeper layers of the snowpack and reach quite a large size.
Sunny slopes: As a consequence of warming during the day and the solar radiation, the likelihood of moist loose snow slides being released will increase a little.
Snowpack
dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
The new snow and wind slabs of the last few days are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack in particular on shady slopes at elevated altitudes. Avalanche prone weak layers exist in the old snowpack especially on little used shady slopes.
The solar radiation will give rise as the day progresses to increasing moistening of the snowpack on steep sunny slopes.
Tendency
The weather conditions will facilitate a stabilisation of the snowpack. Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Wind slab
2400m
Weak layers in the old snowpack represent the main danger. Wind slabs require caution.
Weak layers in the old snowpack can still be released in some places by individual winter sport participants. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2200 m. Such avalanche prone locations are barely recognisable, even to the trained eye. Avalanches can reach medium size.
Wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in some cases on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2400 m, especially adjacent to ridgelines. The mostly small wind slabs are clearly recognisable to the trained eye.
As a consequence of warming during the day and the solar radiation, the likelihood of moist loose snow slides being released will increase a little on extremely steep south facing slopes.
Snowpack
dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
Shady slopes: Avalanche prone weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack in particular on little used shady slopes. As a consequence of a moderate wind, wind slabs formed adjacent to ridgelines. These are lying on soft layers at elevated altitudes.
Sunny slopes: The snowpack will be in most cases well bonded. The solar radiation will give rise as the day progresses to increasing softening of the snowpack on steep sunny slopes. Below the tree line only a little snow is now lying.
Tendency
Weak layers in the old snowpack represent the main danger. As a consequence of warming during the day and the solar radiation, the likelihood of wet snow slides being released will increase a little in particular on extremely steep sunny slopes.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Fresh wind slabs require caution.
The more recent wind slabs are in some cases still prone to triggering. Caution is to be exercised in particular on very steep shady slopes adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls above approximately 1800 m. In isolated cases avalanches are medium-sized and can be released in some cases by a single winter sport participant.
The weather conditions will give rise to increasing consolidation of the snowpack.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.9: graupel blanketed with snow
The more recent wind slabs are bonding poorly with the old snowpack. Precarious weak layers exist in the centre of the old snowpack in particular on little used shady slopes.
The solar radiation will give rise as the day progresses to increasing softening of the snowpack on sunny slopes. Increase in danger of moist snow slides in particular in steep rocky terrain.
Below the tree line a little snow is lying. The snowpack will be moist at low and intermediate altitudes.
Tendency
Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution. Increase in danger of moist avalanches as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation.
Danger level
2400m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2400m
Wind slabs require caution.
Fresh wind slabs are in isolated cases prone to triggering. The avalanche prone locations are to be found on near-ridge shady slopes above approximately 2400 m. In regions exposed to the foehn wind these avalanche prone locations are a little more prevalent. They are easy to recognise. Avalanches can reach medium size in isolated cases.
Weak layers in the old snowpack can still be released in very isolated cases. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in little used backcountry terrain above approximately 2200 m, especially on very steep shady slopes.
As a consequence of warming during the day and the solar radiation, the likelihood of moist loose snow slides being released will increase a little on extremely steep south facing slopes.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold
Shady slopes: As a consequence of a moderate southerly foehn wind, clearly visible wind slabs will form on Wednesday in particular in the regions exposed to the foehn wind. They are lying on unfavourable layers in particular on very steep shady slopes at elevated altitudes. Faceted weak layers exist deeper in the old snowpack on little used shady slopes.
Sunny slopes: The snowpack will be in most cases well bonded. As a consequence of low temperatures and low relative humidity a crust will form on the surface during the course of the night. Sunshine and high temperatures will give rise as the day progresses to increasing softening of the snowpack. Below the tree line only a little snow is now lying.
Tendency
The weather conditions will facilitate a gradual stabilisation of the snow drift accumulations.
Danger level
A generally favourable avalanche situation will prevail.
Individual avalanche prone locations for dry avalanches are to be found on extremely steep shady slopes at elevated altitudes, in particular adjacent to ridgelines.
Individual small gliding avalanches and wet snow slides are possible. This applies on extremely steep sunny slopes.
Snowpack
The snowpack is largely stable. The solar radiation will give rise as the day progresses to increasing softening of the snowpack on steep sunny slopes. Below the tree line only a little snow is now lying.
Tendency
The avalanche conditions are generally favourable.
Danger level
Wind slabs require caution.
Fresh wind slabs are in individual cases still prone to triggering. Caution is to be exercised in particular on very steep shady slopes adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls above approximately 2000 m. Mostly avalanches are small.
The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on little used shady slopes at elevated altitudes.
As a consequence of warming during the day and the solar radiation, the likelihood of moist loose snow slides being released will increase a little on extremely steep south facing slopes.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
The mostly small wind slabs are lying on soft layers in particular on shady slopes at elevated altitudes.
The snowpack will be moist at low and intermediate altitudes. Only a small amount of snow is lying for the time of year.
Tendency
The weather conditions will facilitate a rapid stabilisation of the snowpack.
Danger level
The conditions are quite favourable.
The mostly small wind slabs are in individual cases still prone to triggering on extremely steep shady slopes. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular adjacent to ridgelines above approximately 2400 m. The wind slabs are clearly recognisable to the trained eye.
As a consequence of warming during the day and the solar radiation, the likelihood of moist loose snow slides being released will increase a little on extremely steep south facing slopes. On steep grassy slopes small to medium-sized gliding avalanches are possible. This applies in particular in the northwest.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.10: springtime scenario
Shady slopes: The snowpack is largely stable; its surface consists of loosely bonded snow. This applies in particular above approximately 2200 m. More recent wind slabs are to be found adjacent to ridgelines and at elevated altitudes.
Sunny slopes: The snowpack will be in most cases well bonded. The solar radiation will give rise as the day progresses to increasing softening of the snowpack on steep sunny slopes. Below the tree line only a little snow is now lying.
