Avalanche.report

Tuesday 18.01.2022

Published 17 01 2022, 17:00


Danger level

2400m
Avalanche Problem
Wind-drifted snow
2400m
Persistent weak layer
2400m


A widespread favourable avalanche situation will prevail. Fresh wind slabs require caution.

As a consequence of a sometimes strong wind from northerly directions, mostly small wind slabs formed in the last few days at elevated altitudes. These avalanche prone locations are to be found on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2400 m and in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. The fresh wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence in steep terrain. In very isolated cases avalanches can be triggered in the faceted old snow and reach medium size. Caution is to be exercised in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow.
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

As a consequence of mild temperatures and solar radiation the snowpack settled. For those venturing off piste a low avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area. Field observations and stability tests have confirmed a widespread favourable avalanche situation.
The sometimes strong wind has transported the loosely bonded old snow. The wind slabs are to be evaluated with care and prudence in very steep terrain.
In very isolated cases weak layers exist in the centre of the snowpack. This applies in particular on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2400 m.
At elevated altitudes snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. On sunny slopes below approximately 2200 m only a little snow is lying.

Tendency

A widespread favourable avalanche situation will prevail.