Rothenthurm — Avalanche Forecast

SnowpackWith the mild weather, moisture penetration into the snowpack is well advanced. At present, north-facing slopes at altitudes between 2200 and 2600 m are most sensitive to moisture penetration. On east- and west-facing slopes, the critical altitudes are somewhat higher, at approximately between 2500 and 2800 m. On south-facing slopes, moisture penetration extends as far as the high alpine regions. It is especially on these aspects and at these critical altitudes that isolated large or occasionally even very large wet slab avalanches may be triggered naturally. In Grisons in particular, the weak layers in the old snowpack are the least deeply buried, and it is here that wet slab avalanches are likely also to be triggered by human activity. Whumpfing sounds continue to be a possible indication of a weak snowpack.At higher altitudes, where the snowpack is still dry, the weak layers in the old snowpack must continue to be assessed with caution. However, dry avalanches have been rare in recent days.