Avalanche.report

Monday 10.01.2022

Published 09 01 2022, 17:00


Danger level

treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
Treeline


Wind slabs represent the main danger.

As a consequence of a moderate to strong wind from northerly directions, sometimes avalanche prone wind slabs formed above the tree line. The fresh wind slabs are mostly small but can in some cases be released easily. Avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. At elevated altitudes the avalanche prone locations are more prevalent and larger. Wind slabs are to be avoided in steep terrain.
Dry avalanches can additionally in very isolated cases be released in deep layers by large loads. This applies in particular on extremely steep shady slopes in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow. These avalanche prone locations are very rare but are barely recognisable, even to the trained eye.

Snowpack

dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
dp.7: snow-poor zones in snow-rich surrounding

Some snow has fallen in particular on the Main Alpine Ridge. The wind will be moderate to strong over a wide area. Since Sunday mostly small wind slabs formed in all aspects. In some places various wind slab layers are lying on soft layers. Shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack can indicate the danger. Somewhat older wind slabs have bonded quite well with the old snowpack.
The old snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations. In very isolated cases weak layers exist in the centre of the old snowpack in particular on shady slopes. This applies in particular above approximately 2400 m.

Tendency

Fresh wind slabs require caution.