Ortler Range

Gruppo dell'Ortles

Wed 15 Apr

Updated off-schedule

The provider reissued this bulletin at 15 Apr 06:00 UTC, outside the normal publication cycle.

Day Risk Profile

Considerable

below 2500m

Earlier

Moderate

above 2500m

Earlier

Considerable

below 3000m

Later

Moderate

above 3000m

Later

Avalanche Problems

Above 2500 m

Moderate (2) Dry avalanches, earlier

Persistent weak layers Slab 2

N, NE, E, W, NW

above 2500m

Large Few Poor

GM.10 GM.1

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

Considerable (3) Dry avalanches, later

Persistent weak layers Slab 3

N, NE, E, W, NW

above 2500m

Large Few Poor

GM.10 GM.1

Field notes

Source: SLF Avalanche Bulletin Interpretation Guide

Below 2500 m

Considerable (3) Wet avalanches, earlier

Wet snow Slab 3

All aspects

below 2500m

Large Some Poor

GM.10 GM.1

Field notes

Rolling snowballs, deep penetration when you step or ski, and small natural slides are clear signals that the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary is losing strength. After a clear, cold night the surface often freezes into a strong supporting Layer of hard-compacted snow resulting from a melt-freeze process or wind.EAWS glossary, and conditions are favourable in the early morning. After a warm, overcast night, the problem may be present from the start of the day. Plan early returns and watch the runout zones below you.

Source: SLF Avalanche Bulletin Interpretation Guide

Below 3000 m

Considerable (3) Wet avalanches, later

Wet snow Slab 3

All aspects

below 3000m

Large Some Very poor

GM.10 GM.1

Field notes

Source: SLF Avalanche Bulletin Interpretation Guide

Above 3000 m

Moderate (2) Dry avalanches, later

Wind slab Slab 2

N, NE, NW

above 3000m

Medium Some Poor

GM.10 GM.1

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

Above 2800 m

Moderate (2) Dry avalanches, earlier

Wind slab Slab 2

N, NE, NW

above 2800m

Medium Some Poor

GM.10 GM.1

Field notes

Source: SLF Avalanche Bulletin Interpretation Guide

Avalanche Activity

An unfavourable avalanche situation will be encountered over a wide area. Wet snow represents the main danger.

In the early morning as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation there will be a rapid increase in the danger of wet avalanches. Avalanches can in some places be released by a single winter sport participant. On very steep sunny slopes small and medium-sized moist loose snow avalanches are to be expected as the moisture increases. These can release the saturated Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary and reach large size in isolated cases, in the regions exposed to a lot of new snow especially. Wet The abrupt release of a slab of snow on a mountain slope. After crack initiation and crack propagation in a weak layer the released slab comprises 3 elements: The weak layer, the gliding horizon and the slab. If the slope angle is steep enough, the slab will glide down. If the slope is not steep enough, the slab will settle down on the failed weak layer. Possibly a whumpf sound will follow due to air pressed out of the weak layer. The fracture line will be sharp edged.EAWS glossary are to be expected in the afternoon, in particular on steep shady slopes between approximately 2200 and 2600 m. Especially here avalanches can be released in the weakly bonded old snow and reach large size in some cases. This also applies in isolated cases in highly frequented off-piste terrain. In steep Usually a steep, elongated, eroded trench; typically prone to snowdrift accumulation.EAWS glossary the avalanches can reach areas without any snow cover. The fresh wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in some cases, in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and Rounded or elongated concavity; typically tending to accumulate snowdrift.EAWS glossary in Areas above approximately 3000 m (particularly glaciated areas).EAWS glossary. Avalanches can in very isolated cases penetrate deep layers and reach large size.

Outlook

Constant avalanche danger

16 April 2026

The surface of the snowpack will only just freeze and will soften quickly. As the day progresses as a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation there will be an increase in the danger of wet avalanches.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

The surface of the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary will cool hardly at all during the overcast night. Sunshine and high temperatures will give rise as the day progresses to increasing and thorough wetting of the snowpack below approximately 3000 m. The high humditiy will give rise in the afternoon to a loss of strength within the snowpack also on steep shady slopes. West, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2200 m: Towards its base, the snowpack 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. 10 to 20 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Monday above approximately 2500 m. In Areas above approximately 3000 m (particularly glaciated areas).EAWS glossary mostly small wind slabs formed.

Source

ALBINA

Issued

15 Apr 06:00 UTC

Valid until

15 Apr 15:00 UTC

Next update

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Schedule

Off-schedule

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