Lechtaler Alpen Mitte · 3 February 2026

Day Risk Profile

Low

below treeline

Moderate

above treeline

Avalanche Problems

Above treeline

Moderate (2) Dry avalanches · all day

Persistent weak layers + Wind slab Slab 2

N, NE, E, W, NW

above treeline

Medium Some Poor

GM.1 GM.8

Field notes

Persistent weak layers

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.

Wind slab

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

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.

The fresh wind slabs will be deposited on the unfavourable surface of an Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary on west to north to east facing 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. These can be released easily, even by a single winter sport participant,. Avalanches can release the weakly bonded old snow as well and reach medium size. Caution is to be exercised in particular on wind-loaded slopes, as well as 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 above the tree line. Avalanches can additionally in some places be released in the weakly bonded old snow also. Such Locations delineated by aspect or altitude where avalanches can trigger and people or objects are at risk.EAWS glossary are barely recognisable. In the regions neighbouring those that are subject to danger level 3 (considerable) the prevalence and size of the avalanche prone locations will increase. 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.

Outlook

Increasing avalanche danger

4 February 2026

Weak layers in the old snowpack can be released even now by individual winter sport participants. As a consequence of a strong to storm force wind from southerly directions, easily released wind slabs will form.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

The new snow and 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 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

2 Feb 16:00 UTC

Valid until

3 Feb 16:00 UTC

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