Deferegger Alpen Ost · 2 January 2026

Avalanche Problems

Above 2200 m

Low (1) Dry avalanches · all day

Wind slab Slab 1

N, NE, E, NW

above 2200m

Small Few Poor

GM.6

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

Wind slabs require caution. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found on steep shady slopes at elevated altitudes.

The no longer entirely fresh wind slabs can be released in isolated cases in particular on steep shady slopes at high altitudes and in Areas above approximately 3000 m (particularly glaciated areas).EAWS glossary. Caution is to be exercised adjacent to ridgelines and 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. 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 with altitude. Mostly avalanches are small. Apart from the danger of being buried, restraint should be exercised in particular in view of the danger of avalanches sweeping people along and giving rise to falls.

Outlook

Constant avalanche danger

3 January 2026

Low avalanche danger will prevail.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

As a consequence of a sometimes strong wind from northwesterly directions, rather small wind slabs formed in the last few days. The wind slabs are lying on soft layers in particular on shady slopes at elevated altitudes. Shady slopes above approximately 2600 m: Faceted 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 exist in the bottom section of the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary. The snowpack will be generally subject to considerable local variations. A little snow is lying in all altitude zones. Steep south facing slopes: Hardly any snow is lying.

Source

ALBINA

Issued

1 Jan 16:00 UTC

Valid until

2 Jan 16:00 UTC

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