Last 2 days before the storm is forecasted to arrive to the area:
Clouds rolling in, temps slightly below zero and light to moderate winds.
As air temperatures rise, loose wet avalanches are likely on Friday. Deep slab avalanches remain possible in isolated areas on shaded aspects.
Stay tuned for updates.
We also encourage you to share any observations regarding current snow and avalanche conditions!
Presumably rider-triggered wind slab on Sadzele. Many previous tracks on the slope and these riders just hit the right spot. Tracks do not equal a safe slope! No reports of anyone caught.
8 Ski-tourers triggered a wind slab in Dedaena on a steep wind-loaded slope. They were all together, and 7 went for a ride. Lucky it was not bigger - everybody remained on the surface. Lesson: spread out!
The last recorded snowfall on February 26–27 brought up to 80 cm of new snow and was preceded by a warm period that contributed to the general stabilization of the older layers in the snowpack. A crust formed during the repeated melt–freeze cycle, however, created a weak interface for the new snow, which led to significant avalanche activity after the storm, including rider-triggered avalanches.
Since March 3, the weather has been stable. Air temperatures have remained well below 0 °C throughout the day above roughly 1,400 m, which should have helped consolidate the newer layers of the snowpack.
Above about 2,500 m, however - especially in shallower, isolated areas - various buried weaknesses may still persist, including old surface hoar, sun crusts, and weak snow near the ground.
Freezing temps between -3C and -10C: freezing level at 900 m during night time and 1600 m. during the day.
Sunny on Friday with clouds rolling in around noon. Cloudy on Saturday.
No precipitation and significant winds until Saturday evening, when the snowfall is forecasted to start.
Some E winds of around 20-30 km/h above 2500 m. were detected by our weather station and observed until noon of March 12.
Due to recent weather it is likely that not much loose snow was available for transport - however some areas and pockets of loose dry snow were observed on March 12, so watch out for smooth, rounded areas on leeward slopes.
Glide cracks and glide avalanches are active - don't stop underneath cracks!