Avalanche forecast

Small fresh and blanketed snowdrifts are main danger - Still glide-snow avalanches

Small fresh and blanketed snowdrifts are main danger - Still glide-snow avalanches

Avalanche danger above 2200 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Small fresh and frequently covered snowdrifts are still the main problem. Avalanche prone locations are found especially in steep ridgeline terrain and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. They increase with altitude in spread and frequency. Small slabs can be triggered by large additional loading. Cautious route selection is advised. At intermediate and low altitudes, glide-snow avalanches are still possible: caution below glide cracks. With daytime warming and solar radiation, mostly small-to-medium loose-snow avalanches can release naturally in steep, rocky terrain.

Accompanied by brisk E/NE winds, exposed zones have received small fresh snowdrift accumulations. The most recent round of fresh snow often lies deposited atop loose, soft and also bonded layers. Steep south-facing slopes have a slight crust. Exposed zones are often windblown down to the ground or to a wind-freeze crust, gullies and bowls filled to the brim with drifts. Older drifts often cover older snowdrift accumulations of recent days or soft layers. In some places, graupel and surface hoar have been covered. Bonding to this (as well as in deeper layers) is moderate, but worsens with altitude. The old snowpack is generally well consolidated and stable, but there are faceted crystals at mid-level of the snowpack, triggerable by large additional loading.

A high-pressure front: increasingly mild, very dry air, sunshine from morning til late, cloudless. The zero-degree level will gradually climb to 3000 m. Temperature at 2000 m: 2 to 6 degrees. Light to moderate N/NE winds at high altitude.

The next few days will be very sunny and mild. Avalanche danger will continue to decrease.