Brandenberger Alpen · 13 January 2026

Day Risk Profile

Low

below treeline

Moderate

above treeline

Avalanche Problems

Above treeline

Moderate (2) Dry avalanches · all day

Wind slab Slab 2

All aspects

above treeline

Medium Some Poor

GM.6 GM.5

Field notes

Look for fresh snow deposits on Slope facing downwind/ wind sheltered aspect. Snow deposits can attain several times average snow depth.EAWS glossary, in Usually a steep, elongated, eroded trench; typically prone to snowdrift accumulation.EAWS glossary and Rounded or elongated concavity; typically tending to accumulate snowdrift.EAWS glossary, and behind ridgelines and abrupt changes in terrain — these are where the wind has loaded the snow into slabs that are easy to trigger. Recent avalanches, shooting cracks under your weight, and 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 are clear confirmations of the problem. The safest move is to avoid wind-loaded terrain entirely. NB wind signs alone don't always mean an avalanche problem exists, and the age of drifted snow is hard to judge.

Source: SLF Avalanche Bulletin Interpretation Guide

Avalanche Activity

The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs represent the main danger.

The fresh and older wind slabs can be released easily. The Locations delineated by aspect or altitude where avalanches can trigger and people or objects are at risk.EAWS glossary are to be found in all Direction in which a slope faces as indicated by compass direction of the fall line; i.e. a north slope faces in a northerly direction.EAWS glossary above the tree line, in isolated cases also in areas close to the tree line. Caution is to be exercised in particular in Usually a steep, elongated, eroded trench; typically prone to snowdrift accumulation.EAWS glossary and Rounded or elongated concavity; typically tending to accumulate snowdrift.EAWS glossary, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, as well as adjacent to ridgelines. Such avalanche prone locations are easy to recognise. In the regions neighbouring those that are subject to danger level 3 (considerable) such avalanche prone locations are more prevalent and larger. In some cases the avalanches in these loacations are medium-sized. 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. Shooting cracks when stepping on the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary serve as an alarm indicating the danger.

Outlook

Constant avalanche danger

14 January 2026

Gradual decrease in avalanche danger as a consequence of warming.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

Over a wide area 20 to 30 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, fell in the last few days. The wind will be strong in some regions. Fresh and older wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary. The old snowpack is faceted and its surface has a Layer of hard-compacted snow resulting from a melt-freeze process or wind.EAWS glossary that is barely capable of bearing a load. The Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary will be generally subject to considerable local variations.

Source

ALBINA

Issued

12 Jan 16:00 UTC

Valid until

13 Jan 16:00 UTC

Next update

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