Gruppo della Cima San Giacomo · 3 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

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 fresh and older wind slabs can be released in some cases in particular on northwest 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 above approximately 2200 m. 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. Mostly avalanches are only 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. Sunny slopes: In steep terrain there is a danger of falling on the hard snow surface.

Outlook

Constant avalanche danger

4 January 2026

Low avalanche danger will prevail.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

As a consequence of a sometimes storm force wind from westerly directions, further wind slabs will form. The hard wind slabs are lying on soft layers in particular on shady slopes at elevated altitudes. Shady slopes: The Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary 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. The snowpack will be generally subject to considerable local variations. A little snow is lying in all altitude zones. Steep south facing slopes: The snowpack is well consolidated and its surface has a Layer of hard-compacted snow resulting from a melt-freeze process; increases firmness.EAWS glossary that is strong in many cases.

Source

ALBINA

Issued

3 Jan 07:00 UTC

Valid until

3 Jan 16:00 UTC

Next update

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Schedule

Off-schedule