Gruppo dell'Ortles · 30 March 2026

Day Risk Profile

Low

below 2200m

Moderate

above 2200m

Avalanche Problems

Above 2200 m

Moderate (2) Dry avalanches · all day

Wind slab + Persistent weak layers Slab 2

All aspects

above 2200m

Medium Some 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 represent the main danger. Weakly bonded old snow is to be evaluated with care and prudence.

As a consequence of new snow and a storm force northerly wind, extensive wind slabs formed 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. These can be released even by a single winter sport participant above approximately 2200 m, caution is to be exercised in particular at the base of rock walls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, as well as 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 medium-sized. Additionally in isolated cases avalanches can penetrate near-ground layers of the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary and reach large size in isolated cases, especially on west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2200 m, and on south facing slopes at elevated altitudes. 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.

Outlook

Increasing avalanche danger

31 March 2026

10 to 30 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall. As a consequence of new snow and a sometimes strong wind from northerly directions, further wind slabs will form.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

The sometimes storm force wind has transported the fresh and old snow significantly. In some cases the various wind slabs have bonded still only poorly together. The Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary will be weakly bonded in some places, especially on west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2200 m, and on south facing slopes at elevated altitudes.

Source

ALBINA

Issued

29 Mar 16:01 UTC

Valid until

30 Mar 15:00 UTC

Next update

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Schedule

Off-schedule