EUROPEAN AVALANCHE HAZARD SCALE

  For people skiing off-pist

 

DEGREE OF HAZARD

SNOWPACK

AVALANCHE PROBABILITY
1 - LOW The snowpack is generally well bonded and stable.
 Triggering is generally possible only with high additional loads [2] and few very steep extreme slopes. Only a few small natural avalanches (sluffs) possible.
2 - MODERATE The snowpack is moderately well bonded on some steep slopes[1] otherwise generally well bonded.
 Triggering possible with high additional loads [2] , particularly on the steep slopes indicated in the bulletin. Large natural avalanches not likely.
3 - CONSIDERABLE The snowpack is weakly bonded in most steep slopes [1] .
 Triggering possible, sometimes even with low additional loads [2] . The bulletin indicate many slopes which are particularly affected. In certain conditions, medium and occasionally large-sized natural avalanches may occur.
4 - HIGH The snowpack is weakly bonded in most steep slopes [1] .
 Triggering probable even with low additional loads [2] on many steep slopes. In some conditions, freqent medium or largr-sized natural avalanches are likely.
5 - VERY HIGH The snowpack is generally weakly bonded and largely unstable.
 Numerous large natural avalanches are likely, even in moderately steep terrain.
 

(1) generally described in more detail in the avalanche bullettin (e.g. altitude, aspect, type of terrain etc.)
(2) additional load :
high : e.g. group of skiers, piste machine, avalanche blasting
low : e.g. skier, walker
steep slopes : slopes with an incline of more than about 30°
steep extreme slopes: particularly unfavourable in terms of the incline, terrain profile, proximity to ridge, smoothness of underlying ground surface.

 

SIGNALISATION

degree of hazard :

1 & 2

3 & 4

5
signal :