Paganella · 16 March 2026

Day Risk Profile

Low

below treeline

Considerable

above treeline

Avalanche Problems

Above treeline

Considerable (3) Dry avalanches · all day

Wind slab + New snow Slab 3

N, NE, SW, W, NW

above treeline

Medium Some Very 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.

New snow

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

The fresh snow and the wind slabs must be evaluated with care and prudence.

The fresh snow and the extensive wind slabs must be evaluated with care and prudence. Avalanches can in isolated cases be released in the Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary and reach quite a large size on very steep northwest, north and northeast facing slopes. As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation small and, in isolated cases, medium-sized moist loose snow avalanches are possible.

Outlook

Increasing avalanche danger

17 March 2026

<br/> Fresh wind slabs are in some cases still prone to triggering in particular on steep shady slopes. The avalanche danger will decrease gradually. <br/>

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

Very steep, little used shady slopes: Avalanche prone 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 Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary in particular on northwest, north and northeast facing slopes. This applies at high altitude. Outgoing longwave radiation during the night will be good in some case. Sunshine and high temperatures will give rise as the day progresses to increasing moistening of the Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary.

Source

ALBINA

Issued

15 Mar 16:00 UTC

Valid until

16 Mar 16:00 UTC

Next update

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