Weakly bonded old snow is to be evaluated with care and prudence.
Avalanches can as before be released easily. The avalanche prone locations are to be found on steep southwest, north and southeast facing slopes above approximately 2000 m and on steep south facing slopes above approximately 2400 m. The avalanche prone locations are quite prevalent. 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 in isolated cases.
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 various wind slab layers are lying on a weakly bonded old snowpack. These are poorly bonded 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
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Fresh and older wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack.
Fresh and older wind slabs are prone to triggering. These can be released in the weakly bonded old snow, even by a single winter sport participant. Avalanches can reach medium size. 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 on wind-loaded slopes.
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.5: snowfall after a long period of cold dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
The sometimes strong wind has transported some snow. The fresh and older wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack. They are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack. 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
Weak layers in the old snowpack can still be released by winter sport participants.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
Wind slabs require caution.
The somewhat older 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. 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 isolated cases the avalanches 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.
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
2400m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2400m
Wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack.
The somewhat older wind slabs remain in some cases prone to triggering. These can be released in the weakly bonded old snow by a single winter sport participant. In steep gullies in particular avalanches can reach medium size.
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. 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
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
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.
