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Karwendel Mountains

Karwendel West

Thu 16 Apr

Day Risk Profile

Considerable
below 2500m
Earlier
Moderate
above 2500m
Earlier
Considerable
below 2800m
Later
Moderate
above 2800m
Later

Avalanche Problems

Above 2500 m

Moderate (2) Dry avalanches, earlier
Dry snow level 2 Persistent weak layers Slab 2
N, NE, E, W, NW
above 2500m
Large Few Fair
GM.10 GM.1
Field notes

Persistent Snowpack layer in which the crystals are poorly bonded and the layer has the potential to fail. Typical crystals in dry weak layers causing avalanches are : precipitation particles; surface hoar; faceted crystals; hollow crystals; graupel. Generally >1mm in size, loose grains with few bonds Wet weak layers can be formed by all snow crystal/grain types.EAWS glossary are very challenging to recognise. Distinctive noise (resembling a “whumpf” sound) occurring when a weak layer beneath a slab collapses. The air of the weak layer is forced outside the snowpack, with the resulting whumpf sound being heard. The sound usually indicates an unstable situation and can be accompanied by surface cracking. A whumpf is a clear avalanche alert.EAWS glossary sounds and shooting cracks are typical when present, but you can have a serious weak layer with no warning signs at the surface. Knowledge of how the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary has evolved is essential. SLF's travel advice is direct: travel conservatively, avoid terrain where the consequences of being caught are large, and treat the history of weather and snow as more important than what you can see today. Read the full bulletin.

Source: SLF Avalanche Bulletin Interpretation Guide

Considerable (3) Dry avalanches, later
Dry snow level 3 Persistent weak layers Slab 3
N, NE, E, W, NW
above 2500m
Large Few Poor
GM.10 GM.1
Field notes

Persistent Snowpack layer in which the crystals are poorly bonded and the layer has the potential to fail. Typical crystals in dry weak layers causing avalanches are : precipitation particles; surface hoar; faceted crystals; hollow crystals; graupel. Generally >1mm in size, loose grains with few bonds Wet weak layers can be formed by all snow crystal/grain types.EAWS glossary are very challenging to recognise. Distinctive noise (resembling a “whumpf” sound) occurring when a weak layer beneath a slab collapses. The air of the weak layer is forced outside the snowpack, with the resulting whumpf sound being heard. The sound usually indicates an unstable situation and can be accompanied by surface cracking. A whumpf is a clear avalanche alert.EAWS glossary sounds and shooting cracks are typical when present, but you can have a serious weak layer with no warning signs at the surface. Knowledge of how the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary has evolved is essential. SLF's travel advice is direct: travel conservatively, avoid terrain where the consequences of being caught are large, and treat the history of weather and snow as more important than what you can see today. Read the full bulletin.

Source: SLF Avalanche Bulletin Interpretation Guide

Below 2500 m

Considerable (3) Wet avalanches, earlier
Wet snow level 3 Wet snow Slab 3
All aspects
below 2500m
Large Some Poor
GM.10 GM.1
Field notes

Rolling snowballs, deep penetration when you step or ski, and small natural slides are clear signals that the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary is losing strength. After a clear, cold night the surface often freezes into a strong supporting Layer of hard-compacted snow resulting from a melt-freeze process or wind.EAWS glossary, and conditions are favourable in the early morning. After a warm, overcast night, the problem may be present from the start of the day. Plan early returns and watch the runout zones below you.

Source: SLF Avalanche Bulletin Interpretation Guide

Below 2800 m

Considerable (3) Wet avalanches, later
Wet snow level 3 Wet snow Slab 3
All aspects
below 2800m
Large Some Very poor
GM.10 GM.1
Field notes

Rolling snowballs, deep penetration when you step or ski, and small natural slides are clear signals that the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary is losing strength. After a clear, cold night the surface often freezes into a strong supporting Layer of hard-compacted snow resulting from a melt-freeze process or wind.EAWS glossary, and conditions are favourable in the early morning. After a warm, overcast night, the problem may be present from the start of the day. Plan early returns and watch the runout zones below you.

Source: SLF Avalanche Bulletin Interpretation Guide

Avalanche Activity

An unfavourable avalanche situation will prevail. Wet snow represents the main danger.

In the early morning as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation there will be a rapid increase in the danger of wet avalanches. Most and wet avalanches can in some places be released by a single winter sport participant. Caution is to be exercised in particular on very steep slopes below approximately 2500 m. As the penetration by moisture increases the prevalence of the Locations delineated by aspect or altitude where avalanches can trigger and people or objects are at risk.EAWS glossary will increase as the day progresses. More frequent wet The abrupt release of a slab of snow on a mountain slope. After crack initiation and crack propagation in a weak layer the released slab comprises 3 elements: The weak layer, the gliding horizon and the slab. If the slope angle is steep enough, the slab will glide down. If the slope is not steep enough, the slab will settle down on the failed weak layer. Possibly a whumpf sound will follow due to air pressed out of the weak layer. The fracture line will be sharp edged.EAWS glossary are to be expected in the afternoon. Caution is to be exercised in particular on steep shady slopes between approximately 2200 and 2600 m. Especially here wet avalanches can penetrate even deep layers and reach large size. This also applies in isolated cases in highly frequented off-piste terrain. In steep Usually a steep, elongated, eroded trench; typically prone to snowdrift accumulation.EAWS glossary the avalanches can reach areas without any Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary. Individual avalanche prone locations for dry avalanches are to be found on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2500 m. Such avalanche prone locations are difficult to recognise. Especially transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack are unfavourable.

Outlook

Constant avalanche danger

17 April 2026

Outgoing longwave radiation during the night will be quite good. The backcountry touring conditions in the morning at elevated altitudes are quite favourable. As the day progresses as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation there will be an appreciable increase in the danger of wet avalanches.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack
Outgoing longwave radiation during the night will be severely restricted. For this reason the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary will only just freeze. Sunshine and high temperatures will give rise as the day progresses to increasing and thorough wetting of the snowpack below approximately 2800 m. The high humditiy will give rise in the afternoon to a loss of strength within the snowpack also on steep shady slopes. West, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2200 m: Towards its base, the snowpack consists of Snow grains, solid, with multiple flat glassy faces and sharp edges. Developed from faceting metamorphism, usually poorly bonded to one another (fewer contact points), a critical factor in avalanches if a faceted layer is covered with bonded snow. Typical grain size: 0.5 to 3 mm See also: www.snowcrystals.itEAWS glossary.

Source

ALBINA

Issued

15 Apr 15:00 UTC

Valid until

16 Apr 15:00 UTC

Next update

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