Lechtaler Alpen Mitte · 20 January 2026

Day Risk Profile

Low

below 2000m

Considerable

above 2000m

Avalanche Problems

Above 2000 m

Considerable (3) Dry avalanches · all day

Persistent weak layers Slab 3

All aspects

above 2000m

Medium Many Poor

GM.5 GM.6

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

Avalanche Activity

Weakly bonded old snow is to be evaluated with care and prudence.

Avalanches can as before 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 on steep southwest, north and southeast facing slopes above approximately 2000 m and on steep south facing slopes above approximately 2400 m. The avalanche prone locations are quite prevalent. These places are covered with new snow and are therefore barely recognisable, even to the trained eye. Mostly the avalanches are medium-sized. 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 on wind-loaded slopes. 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 the formation of 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. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible in isolated cases. Experience and restraint are important.

Outlook

Constant avalanche danger

21 January 2026

Hardly any decrease in avalanche danger. Avalanches can as before be released, even by a single winter sport participant and reach medium size.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

The Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary is faceted. Over a wide area various wind slab layers are lying on a weakly bonded old snowpack. These are poorly bonded with the old snowpack.

Source

ALBINA

Issued

19 Jan 16:00 UTC

Valid until

20 Jan 16:00 UTC

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