Avalanche Danger Scale

Danger level

Snowpack stability

Likelihood of triggering

The snowpack is poorly bonded and largely unstable in general.

Numerous very large and often extremely large natural avalanches can be expected, even in moderately steep terrain.

The snowpack is poorly bonded on most steep slopes.

Triggering is likely, even from low additional loads, on many steep slopes. In some cases, numerous large and often very large natural avalanches can be expected.

The snowpack is moderately to poorly bonded on many steep slopes.

Triggering is possible, even from low additional loads, particularly on the indicated steep slopes. In certain situations some large, and in isolated cases very large natural avalanches are possible.

The snowpack is only moderately well bonded on some steep slopes; otherwise well bonded in general.

Triggering is possible, primarily from high additional loads, particularly on the indicated steep slopes. Very large natural avalanches are unlikely.

The snowpack is well bonded and stable in general.

Triggering is generally possible only from high additional loads in isolated areas of very steep, extreme terrain. Only small and medium natural avalanches are possible.