A precarious avalanche situation will be encountered over a wide area.
The fresh snow and the wind slabs formed during the snowfall are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack on west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 1400 m. Especially here avalanches can be triggered in the faceted old snow. This applies even in case of a small load. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible.
The avalanche prone locations are widespread and are barely recognisable. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase with altitude. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm indicating the danger.
As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation loose snow avalanches are possible.
The current avalanche situation calls for caution and restraint.
Snowpack
dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
Up to 40 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Saturday. As a consequence of a gusty wind from southerly directions, soft wind slabs formed. These are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack above approximately 1400 m.
The old snowpack is faceted and weak. This applies especially in shady places that are protected from the wind. The old snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations.
Tendency
The current avalanche situation calls for caution and restraint. The new snow and wind slabs remain prone to triggering. Further increase in avalanche danger as a consequence of new snow and wind.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.
As a consequence of the moderate to strong foehn wind, the snow drift accumulations will increase in size. The fresh snow and the wind slabs formed during the snowfall are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack on west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2200 m. Especially here avalanches can be triggered in the faceted old snow. This applies even in case of a small load. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. The avalanche prone locations are covered with new snow and are barely recognisable.
Snowpack
dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
As a consequence of a moderate to strong southerly wind, further wind slabs will form. 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.
Tendency
The fresh wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.
The fresh snow and the wind slabs formed during the snowfall are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack on west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2000 m. Especially here avalanches can be triggered in the faceted old snow. This applies even in case of a small load. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible in isolated cases.
The avalanche prone locations are covered with new snow and are barely recognisable. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm indicating the danger.
Isolated loose snow avalanches are possible as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation, in particular on very steep sunny slopes.
Snowpack
dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold
Up to 20 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Saturday. As a consequence of a moderate wind from southerly directions, soft wind slabs formed. These are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on shady slopes above approximately 2000 m.
The old snowpack is faceted and weak. This applies especially in shady places that are protected from the wind. The old snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations.
Tendency
The current avalanche situation calls for caution and restraint. The new snow and wind slabs remain prone to triggering. Slight increase in avalanche danger as a consequence of new snow and wind.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.
As a consequence of the moderate to strong foehn wind, the snow drift accumulations will increase in size. The fresh snow of the weekend as well as the wind slabs can be released easily, even by a single winter sport participant, in particular on steep west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2000 m. Especially here avalanches can be triggered in the faceted old snow and reach medium size. Caution is to be exercised in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, as well as in places that are protected from the wind. The avalanche prone locations are sometimes covered with new snow and are barely recognisable. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase with altitude.
Restraint is advisable.
Snowpack
dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
Up to 30 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Saturday. As a consequence of a strengthening wind from southerly directions, further wind slabs will form. These are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack above approximately 2000 m. The old snowpack is faceted and weak. This applies especially in shady places that are protected from the wind. The old snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations.
Tendency
Increase in avalanche danger as a consequence of new snow and wind.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow are to be assessed with care and prudence.
As a consequence of the moderate to strong foehn wind, the snow drift accumulations will increase in size. The 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. 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. The avalanche prone locations are barely recognisable.
Snowpack
dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
As a consequence of a freshening southwesterly wind, further wind slabs will form. 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. 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
Hardly any decrease in danger.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Fresh wind slabs will form in particular in the regions exposed to the foehn wind. Weakly bonded old snow is to be evaluated with care and prudence.
As a consequence of the moderate to strong foehn wind, the snow drift accumulations will increase in size. The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack. Especially here avalanches can be triggered in the weakly bonded old snow, this applies even in case of a single winter sport participant. Mostly they 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. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on very steep west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2000 m and on south facing slopes above approximately 2600 m. These places are sometimes covered with new snow and are therefore barely recognisable.
Snowpack
dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
Distinct weak layers exist in the old snowpack. This applies in particular on west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2000 m, as well as on south facing slopes above approximately 2600 m. As a consequence of a strengthening wind from southerly directions, wind slabs will form. These are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack above approximately 2000 m. This applies especially in shady places that are protected from the wind. The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack. The old snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations.
Tendency
Avalanches can as before be released by a single winter sport participant and reach medium size.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.
The fresh snow and the wind slabs formed during the snowfall are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack on west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2200 m. Especially here avalanches can be triggered in the faceted old snow. This applies even in case of a small load. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. The avalanche prone locations are covered with new snow and are barely recognisable.
Snowpack
dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
Up to 20 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen. As a consequence of new snow and a moderate southerly wind, mostly small wind slabs formed. 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
The fresh and older wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.
As a consequence of the moderate to strong foehn wind, the snow drift accumulations will increase in size. The fresh and 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, as well as adjacent to ridgelines. Such avalanche prone locations are sometimes covered with new snow barely recognisable. Mostly the avalanches are small.
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
The old snowpack consists of faceted crystals. The mostly small wind slabs of the last few days are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on shady slopes.
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.
