A dangerous avalanche situation will be encountered over a wide area.
Weak layers in the upper part of the snowpack can be released over a wide area easily by individual winter sport participants in particular above the tree line. The avalanche prone locations are numerous and are barely recognisable, even to the trained eye. To some extent avalanches can also penetrate deep layers and reach large size. In particular on wind-loaded slopes natural avalanches must be expected, this applies in particular during the course of the night. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible.
The danger exists in particular in alpine snow sports terrain.
Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack and fresh avalanches serve as an alarm indicating the danger. Great caution and restraint are required.
Snowpack
dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
Up to 50 cm of snow will fall. The wind will be strong at times.
The old snowpack is faceted. Over a wide area new snow and wind slabs are lying on a weakly bonded old snowpack. The various wind slabs have bonded poorly with each other and the old snowpack.
Tendency
The danger of natural avalanches will decrease. Avalanches can as before be released very easily and reach large size in isolated cases.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Weakly bonded old snow represents the main danger.
Weak layers in the upper part of the snowpack can be released over a wide area easily by individual winter sport participants. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in all aspects above the tree line. Such avalanche prone locations are numerous but are difficult to recognise. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. In the regions neighbouring those that are subject to danger level 4 (high) the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent and larger.
Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack and fresh avalanches serve as an alarm indicating the danger. Caution and restraint are required.
Snowpack
dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
Up to 15 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall. The wind will be strong at times.
The old snowpack is faceted. Over a wide area new snow and wind slabs are lying on a weakly bonded old snowpack. The various wind slabs have bonded poorly with each other and the old snowpack.
Tendency
The avalanche danger will persist.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Increase in avalanche danger as a consequence of new snow and strong wind. The avalanche-prone wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack. They represent the main danger.
As a consequence of new snow and strong wind the wind slabs will increase in size additionally.
The fresh and older wind slabs can be released very easily. They are barely recognisable. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on southwest to north to southeast facing aspects above approximately 2200 m and on steep south facing slopes above approximately 2400 m. In particular in shady places that are protected from the wind avalanches can release the weakly bonded old snow as well and reach quite a large size. Caution is to be exercised in particular at the base of rock walls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, as well as in gullies and bowls.
Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack are a clear indication of a weakly bonded snowpack.
As a consequence of solar radiation individual loose snow avalanches are possible from midday, but they will be mostly small.
Snowpack
dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
15 to 25 cm of snow fell in the last few days. The strong wind has transported the new snow significantly. Up to 10 cm of snow will fall. As a consequence of the sometimes storm force wind the wind slabs will increase in size additionally.
In some cases the various wind slabs have bonded poorly. The wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack. The old snowpack is faceted.
The snowpack will be generally subject to considerable local variations. Only a small amount of snow is lying for the time of year in all altitude zones.
Tendency
Weakly bonded old snow represents the main danger.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs represent the main danger.
The fresh and older wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on northwest to north to southeast facing aspects above the tree line, in isolated cases also in areas close to the tree line. Caution is to be exercised in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, as well as adjacent to ridgelines. Such avalanche prone locations are easy to recognise. In the regions neighbouring those that are subject to danger level 3 (considerable) such avalanche prone locations are more prevalent and larger. In isolated cases the avalanches in these loacations are medium-sized.
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. Shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm indicating the danger.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold
Up to 15 cm of snow fell in the last few days. In some regions up to 20 cm of snow will fall. The wind will be strong in some regions.
Fresh and older wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack. The old snowpack is faceted and its surface has a crust that is barely capable of bearing a load.
The snowpack will be generally subject to considerable local variations.
Tendency
Hardly any decrease in avalanche danger as the snowfall eases.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Weakly bonded old snow requires caution.
Distinct weak layers in the upper part of the snowpack can be released very easily. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in all aspects above the tree line. Caution is to be exercised in particular adjacent to ridgelines, as well as in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. Such avalanche prone locations are widespread but are barely recognisable. Mostly avalanches are small.
Shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm indicating the danger.
Snowpack
dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
10 to 15 cm of snow fell in the last two days. In some regions up to 10 cm of snow will fall. The wind will be strong at times.
Over a wide area new snow and wind slabs are lying on a weakly bonded old snowpack. Steep north facing slopes: The old snowpack is very weak; its surface is loosely bonded and consists of surface hoar and faceted crystals. Steep east, south and west facing slopes: The old snowpack is faceted and its surface has a crust that is barely capable of bearing a load.
Tendency
Increase in avalanche danger as a consequence of new snow and wind.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
Fresh wind slabs are to be avoided.
The fresh wind slabs can be released easily by a single winter sport participant.
The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on southwest to north to southeast facing aspects above approximately 2200 m and on steep south facing slopes above approximately 2400 m. In particular in shady places that are protected from the wind avalanches can release the weakly bonded old snow as well and reach medium size. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack can indicate the danger. Caution is to be exercised in particular at the base of rock walls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, as well as in gullies and bowls. In the regions neighbouring those that are subject to danger level 3 (considerable) the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent and larger.
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 dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold
Up to 15 cm of snow, and up to 25 cm in some localities, fell in the last few days. In some localities up to 10 cm of snow will fall. As a consequence of the sometimes storm force wind the wind slabs will increase in size additionally.
The fresh wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on steep shady slopes. The old snowpack is faceted. In some cases the various wind slabs have bonded poorly together.
The snowpack will be generally subject to considerable local variations. Only a small amount of snow is lying for the time of year in all altitude zones.
Tendency
Wind slabs are to be evaluated critically.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack.
Wind slabs are to be found in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. Avalanches can in isolated cases be released in the old snowpack. The avalanche prone locations are rare but are easy to recognise. Mostly avalanches are small. Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised in particular in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls.
Snowpack
2 to 10 cm of snow has fallen since Friday. The wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on wind-protected shady slopes. The old snowpack is faceted. The snowpack will be generally subject to considerable local variations. Only a small amount of snow is lying for the time of year in all altitude zones.
