The current avalanche situation calls for careful route selection.
As a consequence of warming during the day, the likelihood of natural moist avalanches being released will increase gradually.
Shady slopes where weaknesses exist in the old snowpack are precarious. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on steep, little used 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.
The older wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in isolated cases.
Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger and careful route selection. Backcountry tours should be started and concluded early.
Snowpack
dp.10: springtime scenario dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
As a consequence of sharply rising temperatures a treacherous avalanche situation will develop. The surface of the snowpack will soften during the day. Sunshine and high temperatures will give rise as the day progresses to a loss of strength within the snowpack over a wide area.
Precarious weak layers exist in the centre of the old snowpack in particular on little used shady slopes.
Below the tree line a little snow is lying.
Tendency
The meteorological conditions will facilitate a slight strengthening of the snowpack on Saturday. The snowpack remains quite unstable.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Wet snow
2400m
Weak layers in the old snowpack represent the main danger. Slight increase in danger of wet avalanches in the course of the day.
Shady slopes: 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 steep, little used slopes above approximately 2200 m. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found also on sunny slopes in high Alpine regions. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. In isolated cases avalanches can also release deeper layers of the snowpack and reach large size. The avalanche prone locations are barely recognisable, even to the trained eye. The current avalanche situation calls for meticulous route selection.
Sunny slopes: As a consequence of warming during the day and the solar radiation, the likelihood of wet loose snow avalanches being released will increase a little. On extremely steep sunny slopes individual small and, in isolated cases, medium-sized natural avalanches are possible from the middle of the day.
Snowpack
dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold dp.10: springtime scenario
The new snow and wind slabs of last week 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 somewhat older wind slabs are now only very rarely prone to triggering.
Sunny slopes: The snowpack will be in most cases well bonded. As a consequence of low temperatures a crust will form on the surface during the course of the night. The solar radiation will give rise as the day progresses to increasing moistening of the snowpack on steep sunny slopes. Below the tree line only a little snow is now lying.
Tendency
Weakly bonded old snow and wet snow require caution. The surface of the snowpack will cool hardly at all during the overcast night and will soften earlier than the day before.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Wet snow
Weakly bonded old snow and wet snow require caution.
Shady slopes: Avalanches can in very isolated cases be released by a single winter sport participant. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on little used slopes above approximately 2000 m and in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. Mostly avalanches are small.
Sunny slopes: As a consequence of warming during the day and the solar radiation, the likelihood of wet loose snow avalanches being released will increase a little. On extremely steep sunny slopes mostly small natural avalanches are possible from the middle of the day.
Snowpack
dp.10: springtime scenario
Isolated avalanche prone weak layers exist in the old snowpack especially on little used shady slopes.
Sunny slopes: The snowpack will be in most cases well bonded. As a consequence of low temperatures a crust will form on the surface during the course of the night. The solar radiation will give rise as the day progresses to increasing moistening of the snowpack on steep sunny slopes. Below the tree line only a little snow is now lying.
Tendency
Weakly bonded old snow and wet snow require caution. The surface of the snowpack will cool hardly at all during the overcast night and will soften earlier than the day before.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Slight increase in danger of wet avalanches in the course of the day.
As a consequence of warming during the day and the solar radiation, the likelihood of wet loose snow avalanches being released will increase a little. On extremely steep sunny slopes individual small and, in isolated cases, medium-sized natural wet avalanches are possible from the middle of the day. This applies in particular in the regions with a lot of snow.
Snowpack
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. The somewhat older wind slabs have bonded well with the old snowpack.
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. 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 surface of the snowpack will cool hardly at all during the overcast night. The weather conditions will give rise to increasing softening of the snowpack. This also applies at intermediate and high altitudes. The wind will be moderate to strong in particular in the regions exposed to the foehn wind.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Slight increase in danger of wet avalanches in the course of the day.
As a consequence of warming during the day and the solar radiation, the likelihood of wet loose snow avalanches being released will increase a little. On extremely steep sunny slopes individual mostly small natural wet avalanches are possible from the middle of the day.
Individual avalanche prone locations for dry avalanches are to be found on extremely steep shady slopes at elevated altitudes, in particular adjacent to ridgelines. In regions exposed to the foehn wind these avalanche prone locations are a little more prevalent.
Snowpack
dp.10: springtime scenario dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
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.
Shady slopes: As a consequence of a moderate southerly foehn wind, clearly visible wind slabs will form in the regions exposed to the foehn wind. They are in isolated cases prone to triggering on shady slopes at elevated altitudes. Faceted weak layers exist deeper in the old snowpack on little used shady slopes.
Tendency
The surface of the snowpack will cool hardly at all during the overcast night. The weather conditions will give rise to increasing softening of the snowpack. This also applies at intermediate and high altitudes. The wind will be moderate to strong in particular in the regions exposed to the foehn wind. Fresh wind slabs in the high Alpine regions.
