Maddalene · 1 January 2026

Day Risk Profile

Low

below 2200m

Moderate

above 2200m

Avalanche Problems

Above 2200 m

Moderate (2) Dry avalanches · all day

Wind slab Slab 2

N, NE, E, W, NW

above 2200m

Small Some Poor

GM.6

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

Avalanche Activity

The wind slabs represent the main danger.

As a consequence of the northerly wind, the snow drift accumulations have increased in size during the last two days. This applies especially 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. The wind slabs of the last few days can be released easily in particular on southwest to north to northeast facing 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 approximately 2200 m. Caution is to be exercised at their margins in particular. The number and size of Locations delineated by aspect or altitude where avalanches can trigger and people or objects are at risk.EAWS glossary will increase with altitude. Mostly the avalanches are small. In isolated cases avalanches can be triggered in the weakly bonded old snow. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular on extremely steep shady slopes above approximately 2600 m. In very isolated cases avalanches are medium-sized. Even a small avalanche can sweep snow sport participants along and give rise to falls.

Outlook

Constant avalanche danger

2 January 2026

The wind slabs remain prone to triggering. The avalanche danger will persist.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack

The fresh and older wind slabs are lying on soft layers in particular on shady slopes at elevated altitudes. In some cases the wind slabs have bonded poorly with the Snow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary. In particular shady slopes, above approximately 2600 m: Faceted 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 Snow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary. The snowpack will be generally subject to considerable local variations. Steep south facing slopes: Only a little snow is lying.

Source

ALBINA

Issued

31 Dec 16:00 UTC

Valid until

1 Jan 16:00 UTC

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