Avalanche.report

Tuesday 18 02 2020

Published 17 02 2020, 17:00

Regions
Southern Adamello, Primiero - Pale di S. Martino, Adamello - Presanella, Northern Brenta - Peller, Southern Brenta, Fassa Valley, Sole, Pejo and Rabbi, Southern Lagorai, Northern Lagorai, Latemar, Maddalene, Pine' - Mocheni Valley


Danger level
Danger Level 2 - Moderate above the treeline
Danger Level 1 - Low above the treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow above the treeline, N-NE-E-SE-S-SW-W-NW
Gliding snow, N-NE-E-SE-NW


On wind-loaded slopes an unfavourable avalanche situation will persist in some regions.

As a consequence of a moderate to strong northwesterly wind, sometimes easily released wind slabs formed in all aspects. These are clearly recognisable, especially in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain as well as adjacent to ridgelines in all aspects.
Weakly bonded old snow on north facing slopes. Individual avalanche prone locations for gliding avalanches are to be found in particular at high altitude. Caution is to be exercised in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack as well as in shady places that are protected from the wind. Avalanches can be released by large loads and reach medium size.
In steep terrain there is a danger of falling on the icy crust.

Snowpack

Some snow will fall during the night in some regions. The fresh wind slabs remain in some cases prone to triggering in all aspects above the tree line. These are mostly small. The older wind slabs have bonded well with the old snowpack. Faceted weak layers exist in the old snowpack on west, north and east facing slopes. This applies in particular above approximately 2300 m. The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations.

Tendency

The snowpack will be generally stable. Wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence.

Regions
Prealps, Cembra Valley, Bondone and Stivo, Vallarsa, Western Nonsberg Alps, Folgaria - Laverone, Ledro Valley, Eastern Nonsberger Alps, Paganella, Marzola - Valsugana


Danger level
Danger Level 1 - Low
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow above the treeline, N-NE-E-NW


Wind slabs require caution.

The mostly small wind slabs of the last few days must be evaluated with care and prudence in all aspects. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on very steep shady slopes above approximately 1800 m and adjacent to ridgelines. These places are rare and are clearly recognisable to the trained eye. In steep terrain there is a danger of falling on the icy crust.

Snowpack

More recent wind slabs are poorly bonded with the old snowpack in particular on very steep shady slopes above the tree line. The surface of the snowpack will freeze to form a strong crust only at high altitudes. The old snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations.

Tendency

The old snowpack remains stable in all aspects. Wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence.