Goldberg Group Central

Rare avalanche prone locations in the persistent weak layer covered by a little wind slab

Rare avalanche prone locations in the persistent weak layer covered by a little wind slab

The avalanche risk is low. Small avalanches in particular can occasionally be triggered by one person in shady slope high alpine regions above 2600 metres. On the one hand, where older wind slab snow has formed a suitable slab over a weak layer in the persistent weak layer. On the other hand, close to the surface in the wind slab of the last few days, which is still prone to triggering. In addition to the risk of burial, the main consideration should be the risk of entrainment.

A little wind slab lies on a hard-frozen surface. On the sunny slopes, the snow cover, snowpack softens during the daytime changes. In high, shady slopes, there is some bondless, angular snow under the melt-freeze crust, which can serve as a weak layer in exceptional cases. The potential for fracture propagation is generally low due to the overall heavily built-up transformed snow cover. Fractures within the snow cover are most possible in the thin wind slab or over the hard old snow foundation from early winter. The snow depth is well below average at all altitudes.

The night into Saturday will be clear and frosty. On Saturday, the sunny mountain weather will continue with good visibility. The wind will be mostly light and it will be milder, with temperatures of around 5 degrees at 2000 metres and 0 degrees at 3000 metres.

The avalanche danger remains low.