Avalanche danger scale
The bulletins and forecasts are published according to international standards.
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Danger level 4 - High
Snowpack stability
The snowpack is poorly bonded on most steep slopes.
Avalanche trigger probability
Triggering is likely even from low additional loads** on many steep slopes. In some cases, numerous large-sized and often very large-sized natural avalanches can be expeted.
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Danger level 3 - Considerable
Snowpack stability
The snowpack is poorly bonded on many steep slopes.*
Avalanche trigger probability
Triggering is possible, even from low additional loads**, particularly on the indicated steep slopes*.
In some cases large-sized, in isolated cases very large-sized natural avalanches are possible
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Danger level 2 - Moderate
Snowpack stability
The snowpack is only moderately well bonded on some steep slopes*, otherwise well bonded in general.
Avalanche trigger probability
Triggering is possible primarily from high additional loads**, particularly on the indicated steep slopes*.
Very large-sized natural avalanches are unlikely.
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Danger level 1 - Low
Snowpack stability
The snowpack is well bonded and stable in general.
Avalanche trigger probability
Triggering is generally possible only from high additional loads** in isolated areas of very steep, extreme terrain.
Only sluffs and small-sized natural avalanches are possible
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Not given
Snowpack stability
Not given
Avalanche trigger probability
Not given
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Danger level 5 - Very High
Snowpack stability
The snowpack is poorly bonded and largely unstable in general.
Avalanche trigger probability
* The avalanche-prone locations are described in greater detail in the avalanche bulletin (altitude, slope aspect, type of terrain)
- moderately steep terrain: slopes shallower than 30 degrees
- steep slope: slopes steeper than 30 degrees
- very steep, extreme terrain: adverse slope angle (more than 40 degrees), terrain profile, proximity to ridge, smoothness of underlying ground surface
** additional loads:
- low: individual skier / snowboarder, riding softly, not falling; snowshoer; group with good spacing (minimum 10m) keeping distances
- high: two or more skiers / snowboarders etc. without good spacing (or without intervals); snowmachine; explosives; single hiker/climber