Gruppo della Cima San Giacomo · 29 January 2026

Day Risk Profile

Low

below treeline

Considerable

above treeline

Avalanche Problems

Above treeline

Considerable (3) Dry avalanches · all day

Persistent weak layers Slab 3

N, NE, E, W, NW

above treeline

Medium Many Poor

GM.6 GM.5

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

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

As a consequence of snowfall and the strong to storm force southwesterly wind, the snow drift accumulations have increased in size. The fresh wind slabs will be covered with new snow and therefore difficult to recognise. The fresh snow and the wind slabs formed during the snowfall 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 on west, north and east facing slopes above the tree line. 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 in places that are protected from the wind. Especially here avalanches can be triggered in the faceted old snow. This applies in case of a single winter sport participant. In some cases avalanches are medium-sized. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible in isolated cases. 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

Constant avalanche danger

30 January 2026

Hardly any decrease in avalanche danger. The current avalanche situation calls for caution and restraint.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

Up to 15 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen. Up to 15 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall. As a consequence of a strong to storm force wind from southwesterly directions, further wind slabs formed. They are lying on Transparent, frequently flat crystals forming on the snowpack when moist air settles on the surface. It forms most often during cold, clear, humid nights. Once it is blanketed by fresh fallen snow, surface hoar is one of the most critical weak layer. See also: www.snowcrystals.itEAWS glossary in some places in particular on shady slopes above the tree line. The somewhat older 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 in particular on shady slopes above the tree line. The old snowpack is faceted and weak. This applies especially in shady places that are protected from the wind. 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 are a clear indication of a weakly bonded snowpack.

Source

ALBINA

Issued

29 Jan 08:49 UTC

Valid until

29 Jan 16:00 UTC

Next update

—

Schedule

Off-schedule