Avalanche.report

Thursday 16 01 2020

Published 15 01 2020, 17:00

Regions
Gurgler Range, Central Stubai Alps, Northern Zillertal Alps


Danger level
Danger Level 1 - Low
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow above 2000m, N-NE-NW


A mostly favourable avalanche situation will prevail. Fresh wind slabs require caution. This applies in the regions exposed to the foehn wind.

The avalanche prone locations are very rare and are clearly recognisable to the trained eye.
As a consequence of a moderate to strong southwesterly wind, wind slabs formed in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. This applies in the regions exposed to the foehn wind in particular at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions. Single winter sport participants can release avalanches. The avalanches are only small.
In addition a latent danger of gliding avalanches exists, in particular on steep sunny slopes below approximately 2400 m as well as on steep shady slopes below approximately 2000 m. Areas with glide cracks are to be avoided as far as possible.
Dry avalanches can in very isolated cases be released in the old snowpack by large loads. Caution is to be exercised in particular on extremely steep shady slopes, especially adjacent to ridgelines and in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow. Here individual mostly small avalanches are possible. Restraint should be exercised because avalanches can sweep people along and give rise to falls.

Snowpack

dp 6: cold, loose snow and wind

The fresh wind slabs of the last few days are lying on soft layers in particular on shady slopes.
In some places relatively hard layers of snow are lying on old snow containing large grains, in particular on shady slopes at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions as well as adjacent to ridgelines.
The old snowpack will be moist at low and intermediate altitudes. The surface of the snowpack has frozen to form a strong crust will soften during the day. This applies on sunny slopes. There is a danger of falling on the hard snow surface.

Tendency

The backcountry touring conditions remain favourable.

Regions
Sexten Dolomites, Latemar, Southern Adamello, Adamello - Presanella, Northern Brenta - Peller, Bondone and Stivo, Folgaria - Laverone, Southern Brenta, Southern Lagorai, Northern Lagorai, Allgäu Alps, Eastern Lechtal Alps - Ammergau Alps, Mieming Mountains, Karwendel Mountains, Brandenberg Alps, Wilder Kaiser Mountains - Waidring Alps, Western Lechtal Alps, Central Lechtal Alps, Grieskogel Mountains, Val Müstair Alps, Western Verwall Mountains, Langtaufers, Eastern Verwall Mountains, Schnals Ridge, Silvretta, Southern Stubai Alps, Samnaun Mountains, Southern Zillertal Alps and High Tauern, Northern Oetz and Stubai Alps, Saldurn-Mastaun Ridge, Western Tuxer Alps, Texel Mountains, Eastern Tuxer Alps, Sarntal Alps, Western Kitzbühel Alps, Western Pfunderer Mountains, Eastern Kitzbühel Alps, Glockturm Range, Maddalene, Pine' - Mocheni Valley, Eastern Pfunderer Mountains, Durreck Range, Weißkugel Range, Western Rieserferner Mountains, Western Deferegger Alps, Ortler Range, Ulten Valley, Venediger Range, Eastern Nonsberger Alps, Eastern Rieserferner Mountains, Northern Dolomites of Fiemme, Glockner Range, Gröden Dolomites, Primiero - Pale di S. Martino, Eastern Deferegger Alps, Prags Dolomites, Prealps, Schober Mountains, Cembra Valley, Lienzer Dolomites, Vallarsa, Western Nonsberg Alps, Fassa Valley, Sole, Pejo and Rabbi, Ledro Valley, Paganella, Marzola - Valsugana


Danger level
Danger Level 1 - Low


Low, level 1.

The avalanche prone locations are very rare and are clearly recognisable to the trained eye.
Dry avalanches can in very isolated cases be released in the old snowpack by large loads, especially adjacent to ridgelines and in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow. Here individual mostly small avalanches are possible. Caution is to be exercised in particular on extremely steep shady slopes. 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.
A latent danger of gliding avalanches exists, in particular on steep sunny slopes below approximately 2400 m as well as on steep shady slopes below approximately 2000 m. Areas with glide cracks are to be avoided as far as possible.

Snowpack

In some places relatively hard layers of snow are lying on old snow containing large grains, in particular on shady slopes at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions as well as adjacent to ridgelines. Extremely steep, little used shady slopes are to be evaluated with care and prudence.
The old snowpack will be moist at low and intermediate altitudes. The surface of the snowpack has frozen to form a strong crust and will soften during the day. This applies in particular on steep sunny slopes. There is a danger of falling on the hard snow surface.

Tendency

The backcountry touring conditions remain favourable.