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Avalanche danger scale

The bulletins and forecasts are published according to international standards.

  • Danger level 4 - High

    Symbol for faregrad 4 og 5 - stor og meget stor.

    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.

  • Danger level 3 - Considerable

    Symbol for faregrad 3 - betydelig.

    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

  • Danger level 2 - Moderate

    Symbol for faregrad 2 - moderat.

    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.

  • Danger level 1 - Low

    Symbol for faregrad 1 - liten.

    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

  • Not given

    Symbol for ikke vurdert faregrad.

    Snowpack stability

    Not given

    Avalanche trigger probability

    Not given

  • Danger level 5 - Very High

    Symbol for faregrad 4 og 5 - stor og meget stor.

    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