A dangerous avalanche situation will be encountered over a wide area. The danger exists primarily in alpine snow sports terrain.
The fresh snow as well as the widespread wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in all aspects above the tree line. Avalanches can be released easily. These can penetrate deep layers and reach large size. Remotely triggered avalanches are to be expected.
The avalanche prone locations are widespread and are barely recognisable. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase with altitude. Caution is to be exercised on cut slopes, as well as in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain.
Naturally triggered avalanches and avalanches triggered by explosives confirm a dangerous avalanche situation. Great caution and restraint are required.
Snowpack
dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
In some regions up to 60 cm of snow has fallen since Saturday.
The new snow and wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack. It is faceted.
Tendency
Avalanches can as before be released very easily and reach large size.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
A dangerous avalanche situation will be encountered over a wide area. The danger exists in particular in alpine snow sports terrain.
Avalanches can be released in the weakly bonded old snow very easily. This applies in particular on west, north and east facing slopes above the tree line, in isolated cases also on south facing slopes above approximately 2200 m. Avalanches can reach large size. Remotely triggered avalanches are probable.
The avalanche prone locations are widespread and are barely recognisable. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase with altitude. Fresh avalanches and whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack 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
In some regions up to 80 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Saturday.
The new snow and wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack. The old snowpack is faceted. This applies especially in shady places that are protected from the wind.
Tendency
Avalanches can as before be released very easily. The snowpack remains prone to triggering over a wide area.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Outside marked and open pistes a precarious avalanche situation will prevail.
The fresh snow as well as the widespread wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on west, north and east facing slopes above the tree line. Avalanches can be released easily and reach medium size. 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. Caution is to be exercised in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain.
Field observations and avalanches triggered by explosives confirm a precarious avalanche situation. Caution and restraint are required.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold
10 to 20 cm of snow has fallen. As a consequence of southwesterly wind, wind slabs formed on Wednesday. The new snow and wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack. Distinct weak layers exist in the old snowpack. This applies especially on wind-protected west, north and east facing slopes.
Tendency
Hardly any decrease in avalanche danger.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Weak layers in the old snowpack necessitate caution.
Avalanches can be released in the weakly bonded old snow by a single winter sport participant. This applies in particular on west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2200 m. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized.
Caution is to be exercised in particular in gullies and bowls, as well as at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. The avalanche prone locations are covered with new snow and are difficult to recognise. 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 can indicate the danger.
Snowpack
dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
10 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen.
The new snow and wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack. They are poorly bonded with the old snowpack. The old snowpack is faceted.
The snowpack will be generally subject to considerable local variations.
Tendency
Avalanches can be released by a single winter sport participant.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.
Fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are prone to triggering above the tree line. These are covered with new snow in some cases and therefore difficult to recognise. Avalanches can in some places be released, even by a single winter sport participant and reach medium size. Avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on steep west, north and east facing slopes. 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.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold
10 to 20 cm of snow has fallen. The new snow and wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack. The old snowpack consists of faceted crystals.
Tendency
Hardly any decrease in danger.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Outside marked and open pistes a precarious avalanche situation will prevail.
As a consequence of snowfall and the strong to storm force southwesterly wind, the snow drift accumulations have increased in size on Wednesday. The wind slabs are covered with new snow and therefore difficult to recognise. In particular on steep west, north and east facing slopes avalanches can be triggered in the weakly bonded old snow and reach medium size. This applies even in case of a single winter sport participant. 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 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. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible in isolated cases. Restraint is advisable.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold
Up to 20 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen. This applies in particular in the south. The new snow and wind slabs are lying on surface hoar in some places in particular on shady slopes above approximately 1800 m. As a consequence of a strong to storm force wind from southerly directions, sometimes large wind slabs formed. These are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack above approximately 1800 m. The old snowpack is faceted and weak. This applies especially in shady places that are protected from the wind.
Tendency
Hardly any decrease in avalanche danger. The current avalanche situation calls for caution and restraint.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
A precarious avalanche situation will prevail.
Avalanches can be released in the weakly bonded old snow, even by a single winter sport participant. This applies in particular on west, north and east facing slopes above the tree line. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible in isolated cases.
The avalanche prone locations are widespread and are barely recognisable. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found also in areas close to the tree line. 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.
Caution and restraint are required.
Snowpack
dp.5: snowfall after a long period of cold dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
In some regions up to 50 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Saturday.
The new snow and wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack above the tree line. The old snowpack is faceted. This applies especially in shady places that are protected from the wind.
Tendency
Caution and restraint are required.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.
The fresh 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 2000 m. Caution is to be exercised in particular in gullies and bowls, as well as adjacent to ridgelines. The avalanche prone locations are sometimes covered with new snow and are therefore 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
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
Some snow will fall. The mostly small wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on west, north and east facing slopes. 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
Wind slabs are to be avoided.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.
The fresh wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in isolated cases. 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, as well as adjacent to ridgelines. The avalanche prone locations are sometimes covered with new snow and are therefore 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
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
Some snow has fallen. The mostly small wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on shady slopes. 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.
