Avalanche.report

Saturday 02.01.2021

Published01 01 2021, 17:00


Danger level

treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
Treeline
New snow
Treeline


A lot of new snow at low altitude: Fresh and older wind slabs require caution.

On wind-loaded slopes a critical avalanche situation will be encountered over a wide area. The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs can be released easily in all aspects. Caution is to be exercised in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. Mostly the avalanches are medium-sized but in many cases easily released. The prevalence of avalanche prone locations and likelihood of triggering will increase with altitude. Snow slides and natural avalanches are likely to occur during the day. Caution and restraint are required.

Snowpack

dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind

Over a wide area over a wide area 15 to 25 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen above approximately 500 m. The wind was strong at times in some localities. Over a wide area 20 to 30 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall until the evening above approximately 800 m. As a consequence of new snow and a strong wind from southeasterly directions, easily released wind slabs will form in all aspects. In many cases wind slabs are lying on soft layers. In some cases new snow and wind slabs are lying on surface hoar. These avalanche prone locations are numerous and are barely recognisable, even to the trained eye. Stability tests and field observations confirm this situation.

Tendency

In some localities increase in avalanche danger as a consequence of new snow and wind. Fresh wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence.