Outside marked and open pistes a precarious avalanche situation will prevail.
Avalanches can over a wide area be released easily. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in all aspects above approximately 2000 m. The avalanche prone locations are numerous. These places are covered with new snow and are therefore barely recognisable, even to the trained eye. Mostly the avalanches are medium-sized. Caution is to be exercised in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, as well as on wind-loaded slopes.
Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm indicating the danger. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible.
Experience and restraint are important.
Snowpack
dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
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 the old snowpack.
Tendency
Hardly any decrease in avalanche danger. Avalanches can as before be released, even by a single winter sport participant and reach medium size.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
A precarious avalanche situation will persist in some regions.
The somewhat older wind slabs can be released easily, even by a single winter sport participant,. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on west to north to east facing aspects above approximately 2200 m. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found also on steep south facing slopes above approximately 2400 m. Caution is to be exercised in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, as well as adjacent to ridgelines.
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. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack can indicate the danger. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible.
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
Distinct weak layers exist in the old snowpack. The old snowpack consists of faceted crystals.
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
A precarious avalanche situation will persist in some regions.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
Wind slabs can as before be released.
The somewhat older wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on west to north to east facing aspects above approximately 2200 m. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found also on steep south facing slopes above approximately 2400 m. Caution is to be exercised in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, as well as at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack.
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.
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
The wind slabs are easy for the trained eye to recognise but prone to triggering. They are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack. The old snowpack consists of faceted crystals.
Steep south facing slopes below approximately 2400 m: Towards its surface, the snowpack is fairly homogeneous and its surface has a melt-freeze crust.
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
2400m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2400m
Wind slabs can in some cases be released.
The wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in some cases.
The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on west to north to east facing aspects above approximately 2400 m and adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. Such avalanche prone locations are clearly recognisable to the trained eye. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack can indicate the danger. In isolated cases avalanches are medium-sized.
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
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
The wind slabs are mostly rather small but prone to triggering. They are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack. The old snowpack consists of faceted crystals.
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
The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in steep terrain at elevated altitudes. Wind slabs are to be avoided.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Wind slabs require caution.
The fresh and older wind slabs can be released easily. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on west to north to east facing aspects above approximately 2000 m. 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. At elevated altitudes such avalanche prone locations are more prevalent and larger. In some 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
The wind slabs are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack. The old snowpack consists of faceted crystals.
Steep south facing slopes: As a consequence of mild temperatures and solar radiation a crust formed on the surface.
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 avoided.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
Wind slabs are to be evaluated critically.
The wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in some cases. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on west to north to east facing aspects above approximately 2200 m and adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. Such avalanche prone locations are clearly recognisable to the trained eye. In isolated cases avalanches are medium-sized. Whumpfing sounds can indicate the danger.
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
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold
The wind slabs are mostly rather small but prone to triggering. They are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack. The old snowpack consists of faceted crystals.
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
The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in steep terrain above approximately 2200 m. Wind slabs are to be avoided.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2200 m. Wind slabs require caution.
Wind slabs can in isolated cases be released. Caution is to be exercised in particular on very steep shady slopes, as well as adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls above approximately 2200 m. 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
The wind slabs are lying on unfavourable layers at elevated altitudes. The old snowpack consists of faceted crystals.
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.
