New snow, wind slabs and old snow require caution. The conditions are precarious for backcountry touring and other off-piste activities.
Slab avalanches and loose snow slides are the main danger. Outside marked and open pistes a dangerous avalanche situation will prevail.
The fresh snow of yesterday and the wind slabs are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack above the tree line. In particular on wind-loaded slopes avalanches can be released easily and reach large size in isolated cases. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack and natural avalanches serve as an alarm indicating the danger. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible. Distinct weak layers in the lower part of the snowpack can be released even now easily by individual winter sport participants in particular on west, north and east facing slopes. This applies in particular above the tree line. The avalanche prone locations are numerous and are barely recognisable, even to the trained eye. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase with altitude. Caution and restraint are required.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
The new snow and wind slabs of Tuesday are lying on surface hoar above the tree line. Distinct weak layers exist in the old snowpack. This applies especially on west, north and east facing slopes. During the day: Over a wide area 5 to 15 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall above approximately 1200 m.
Tendency
Night: In some localities up to 15 cm of snow will fall above approximately 1200 m. The avalanche danger will increase but remain within the current danger level.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Wind slab
Treeline
A treacherous avalanche situation will persist. Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.
Distinct weak layers in the lower part of the snowpack can be released even now easily by individual winter sport participants in particular on west, north and east facing slopes. This applies in particular above the tree line, in isolated cases also in areas close to the tree line, and on steep sunny slopes at elevated altitudes. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible. The fresh wind slabs can be released easily. or in isolated cases naturally, in particular on west to north to east facing aspects above the tree line. They 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 and fresh avalanches serve as an alarm indicating the danger. Caution and restraint are recommended.
Snowpack
dp.1: deep persistent weak layer dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
In particular from the Ortler Range via the Stubai Alps to the Venediger Range up to 10 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen. As a consequence of the sometimes strong wind the wind slabs will increase in size additionally. 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 west, north and east facing slopes.
Tendency
In particular in the east up to 15 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall. Weak layers in the old snowpack can still be released by individual winter sport participants. In addition the fresh wind slabs are prone to triggering.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.
The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack on west to north to east facing aspects. These can be released easily, even by a single winter sport participant,. Avalanches can release the weakly bonded old snow as well and reach medium size. Such avalanche prone locations are widespread.
Avalanches can additionally in some places be released in the weakly bonded old snow also. Such avalanche prone locations are barely recognisable.
Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm indicating the danger.
Snowpack
dp.8: surface hoar blanketed with snow dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
As a consequence of the sometimes strong wind the wind slabs will increase in size additionally. These are lying on surface hoar in particular on wind-protected shady slopes. The snowpack is unfavourably layered. The old snowpack consists of faceted crystals.
Tendency
The wind slabs are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack. Weak layers in the old snowpack can be released even now by individual winter sport participants.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Wind slab
Treeline
A treacherous avalanche situation will prevail. Weakly bonded old snow requires caution. Wind slabs are to be avoided.
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 approximately 1800 m, in isolated cases also on south facing slopes above approximately 2400 m. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible. In addition the fresh wind slabs in particular above the tree line are prone to triggering. Wind slabs will be covered with new snow in some cases and therefore 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 serve as an alarm indicating the danger.
Snowpack
dp.1: deep persistent weak layer dp.8: surface hoar blanketed with snow
5 to 10 cm of snow has fallen since Tuesday. Up to 10 cm of snow will fall. As a consequence of the sometimes strong wind the wind slabs will increase in size additionally. These are lying on surface hoar in particular on wind-protected shady slopes. The snowpack is unfavourably layered. Distinct weak layers exist in the old snowpack. This applies in particular on west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 1800 m.
Tendency
The avalanche conditions remain precarious. In some regions up to 30 cm of snow will fall. As a consequence of new snow and wind the wind slabs will increase in size. Wind slabs will be covered with new snow in some cases and therefore difficult to recognise.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
2200m
The fresh wind slabs will be deposited on surface hoar. Weak layers in the old snowpack necessitate caution.
The fresh wind slabs will be deposited on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack on west to north to east facing aspects. These can be released easily. or in isolated cases naturally,. Avalanches can release the weakly bonded old snow as well and reach medium size. Caution is to be exercised in particular on wind-loaded slopes, as well as in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain above 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.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
Less snow than expected fell on Tuesday. Up to 10 cm of snow will fall. As a consequence of the sometimes strong wind the wind slabs will increase in size additionally. These are lying on surface hoar especially on wind-protected shady slopes. The old snowpack is faceted and weak.
Tendency
The avalanche conditions remain unfavourable. As a consequence of new snow and wind the wind slabs will increase in size. Weak layers in the old snowpack can still be released by individual winter sport participants.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Wind slab
Treeline
Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.
The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack on west to north to east facing aspects. These can be released easily, even by a single winter sport participant,. Avalanches can release the weakly bonded old snow as well and reach medium size. Caution is to be exercised in particular on wind-loaded slopes, as well as in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain above the tree line.
Avalanches can additionally in some places be released in the weakly bonded old snow also. Such avalanche prone locations are barely recognisable.
In the regions neighbouring those that are subject to danger level 3 (considerable) the prevalence and size of the avalanche prone locations will increase. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm indicating the danger.
Snowpack
dp.1: deep persistent weak layer dp.8: surface hoar blanketed with snow
As a consequence of the sometimes strong wind the wind slabs will increase in size additionally. These are lying on surface hoar in particular on wind-protected shady slopes. The snowpack is unfavourably layered. The old snowpack consists of faceted crystals.
Tendency
Weak layers in the old snowpack can be released even now by individual winter sport participants. The wind slabs are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.
The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs will be deposited on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack on west to north to east facing aspects above the tree line. These can be released easily, even by a single winter sport participant,. Caution is to be exercised in particular in gullies and bowls, as well as adjacent to ridgelines. Mostly the avalanches are small.
In some places avalanches can be triggered in the old snow. This applies in particular on steep west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2000 m.
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.1: deep persistent weak layer
As a consequence of the sometimes strong wind the wind slabs will increase in size. The wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on west, north and east facing slopes. These will be deposited on surface hoar especially on wind-protected 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.
Tendency
Some snow will fall. Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Fresh wind slabs require caution.
Avalanches can in isolated cases be released, but they will be small in most cases. This applies especially on very steep shady slopes, as well as adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls above the tree line.
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 rather small wind slabs of the last few days are lying on the unfavourable surface of an old snowpack at elevated altitudes. The old snowpack consists of faceted crystals.
The snowpack will be generally subject to considerable local variations.
Tendency
From a snow sport perspective, in most cases insufficient snow is lying. Moderate avalanche danger will prevail.
Danger level
Fresh wind slabs require caution.
As a consequence of a sometimes strong wind from southerly directions, sometimes easily released wind slabs will form. The mostly small 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.
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
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.
