Gruppo dell'Ortles · 20 February 2026

Day Risk Profile

Moderate

below treeline

High

above treeline

Avalanche Problems

Above treeline

High (4) Dry avalanches · all day

Persistent weak layers + Wind slab Slab 4

N, NE, E, W, NW

above treeline

Large Many Very poor

GM.1 GM.6

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

Below treeline

High (4) Dry avalanches · all day

New snow Loose 4

All aspects

below treeline

Medium Few Very poor

GM.1 GM.6

Field notes

Easy to spot - the snow is fresh. Look at recent avalanche activity in similar terrain, and pay attention to how much new snow has fallen in the last three days. Critical loading depends on temperature, wind, and what was on the surface before the storm. SLF advises waiting until the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary has had time to bond before committing to steep terrain in fresh snow.

Source: SLF Avalanche Bulletin Interpretation Guide

Avalanche Activity

Outside marked and open pistes a very dangerous avalanche situation will prevail. The danger exists in particular in alpine snow sports terrain.

Wind slabs are very prone to triggering in all 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 the tree line, caution is to be exercised, including in areas close to the tree line. Avalanches can be released in near-surface layers of the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary. Additionally avalanches can also penetrate near-ground layers of the snowpack and reach large size on west, north and east facing slopes. 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 and fresh avalanches serve as an alarm indicating the danger. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible. As a consequence of the strong to storm force foehn wind from the north more natural avalanches are to be expected. This applies in case of releases originating from very steep Slope facing downwind/ wind sheltered aspect. Snow deposits can attain several times average snow depth.EAWS glossary starting zones, in particular at the base of rock walls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. On very steep slopes small and medium-sized loose snow avalanches are possible.

Outlook

Constant avalanche danger

21 February 2026

The off-piste conditions are very dangerous. Weak layers in the old snowpack represent the main danger.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

20 to 40 cm of snow has fallen since Thursday. On Friday the wind will be strong to storm force. The wind will transport the new snow. Further wind slabs will form. The Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary will be prone to triggering over a wide area. 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. Somewhat older wind slabs 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. Distinct 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 old snowpack. This applies in particular on west, north and east facing slopes above the tree line.

Source

ALBINA

Issued

20 Feb 06:40 UTC

Valid until

20 Feb 16:00 UTC

Next update

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Schedule

Off-schedule