Alta Val Passiria · 17 March 2026

Day Risk Profile

Low

below 2000m

Considerable

above 2000m

Avalanche Problems

Above 2000 m

Considerable (3) Dry avalanches · all day

Wind slab + Persistent weak layers Slab 3

N, NE, E, SE, NW

above 2000m

Medium Many Poor

GM.6 GM.1

Field notes

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.

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.

Source: SLF Avalanche Bulletin Interpretation Guide

Avalanche Activity

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.

As a consequence of the sometimes storm force wind the wind slabs will increase in size moderately. The fresh wind slabs can in many places be released, even by a single winter sport participant and reach medium size. Avalanches can in isolated cases penetrate near-ground layers of the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary and reach large size. 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 particular on very steep northwest, north and southeast facing slopes above approximately 2000 m. 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 above approximately 2000 m. The prevalence of avalanche prone locations and likelihood of triggering will increase with altitude. 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 snowpack can indicate the danger. In addition small and, in isolated cases, medium-sized moist loose snow avalanches are possible, in the event of solar radiation in particular on extremely steep slopes.

Outlook

Constant avalanche danger

18 March 2026

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

As a consequence of a strong to storm force wind from northerly directions, further wind slabs will form 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. They will be deposited on soft layers. Avalanche prone 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 on northwest, north and east facing slopes. This applies above approximately 2000 m. Below approximately 2000 m and steep sunny slopes: The surface of the snowpack will soften during the day. The Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary will be moist.

Source

ALBINA

Issued

17 Mar 05:54 UTC

Valid until

17 Mar 16:00 UTC

Next update

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Schedule

Off-schedule