Short version: we’ve added official avalanche bulletins to the map.
Longer version: now you can spend fewer minutes switching between apps… and more minutes double‑checking your plan (the mountains prefer it that way).
Humor disclaimer: yes, we’re joking. Avalanche information is serious, and the goal of this feature is to make official data easier to access and harder to ignore.
Turning on the avalanche layer
Open Ski Touring Map, open the map menu (left panel), and toggle Avalanche.
When enabled, you’ll see:
- Danger icons at the center of each bulletin region
- Color shading of regions (danger overview)
- Clickable regions (tap/click to open the full official bulletin)
Reading the map: icons & colors
The overlay communicates one thing fast: regional avalanche danger.
Danger scale (overview)
PeakVisor uses the standard 5‑level avalanche danger scale used by many agencies (EAWS style). Exact wording may differ by country, but the levels map like this:
| Danger level (overview) | Map icon |
|---|---|
| 1 — Low (green) |  |
| 2 — Moderate (yellow) |  |
| 3 — Considerable (orange) |  |
| 4 — High (red) |  |
| 5 — Very High (purple) | |
| No rating / Unknown (grey) — treat as missing information, not as “safe”. |  |
Tap/click a region or an icon to open the full bulletin.
Quick avalanche summary in the sidebar
The avalanche overlay is great for a wide overview, but often you’re making decisions around a specific objective: your planned ski tour, a peak, a pass, a mountain hut, or another POI.
That’s why PeakVisor also shows a compact avalanche bulletin summary directly in the left sidebar when you open an object. If you need the full details, just tap Open avalanche details.
Opening & reading the full bulletin
The bulletin view is designed to answer the three most important questions quickly:
- How dangerous is it today? (overall danger)
- Where is it dangerous? (elevation bands + aspects)
- What is the problem? (problem types + details)
Validity
Always check the valid time window. If you’re looking at the map late in the day, you may already be reading tomorrow’s bulletin (or yesterday’s, depending on the agency and timezone).
Danger by elevation / time
Many agencies provide danger split by elevation bands and sometimes by time of day. That’s why you may see multiple tiles like:
- All day (≤ 2400 m) — 1 Low
- All day (≥ 2400 m) — 2 Moderate
Interpretation: the hazard can change drastically above a threshold — your route choice should too.
Aspects (the “compass”)
The small compass shows slope aspects (N/E/S/W) where the problem is most relevant. Shaded sectors = more concern on those aspects.
Problems
Problems are the “why” behind the danger rating: wind slabs, persistent weak layers, wet snow, etc. This is where you get actionable hints like typical trigger points, expected avalanche size, and travel advice.
Icon glossary (danger + problems)
Below is a quick legend for the icons you’ll see most often.
Danger icons
(Same icons as on the map.)
- 1 Low: generally stable snowpack; watch for isolated hazards.
- 2 Moderate: some unstable features; careful route selection matters.
- 3 Considerable: dangerous conditions on many slopes; conservative terrain is recommended.
- 4–5 High/Very High: travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.
- No rating: missing/unknown data — treat as “no information”, not as “safe”.
Avalanche problem icons
New snow: recent snowfall hasn’t bonded well yet.
Wind slab: wind‑loaded areas (often leeward) can be reactive.
Persistent weak layers: can surprise you; consequences can be large.
Wet snow: warming / rain can rapidly increase hazard.
Gliding snow: hard to predict; avoid glide cracks and runouts.
No distinct avalanche problem: bulletin does not identify a specific dominant problem.
Mobile: quick access
On mobile, avalanche info is also available via widgets (depending on your OS) and is always close at hand inside the app.
Pro tip: deep‑link by microregion
If you’re a guide, avalanche forecaster, or just someone who knows their region code by heart, you can open the map directly on a specific bulletin region.
Example:
- Show & zoom the avalanche overlay for a region:
/ski-touring?avalanchebulletins=AT-02-02 - Multiple regions (comma‑separated):
/ski-touring?avalanchebulletins=AT-02-02,AT-02-14 - Open the bulletin popup automatically (single region):
/ski-touring?avalanchebulletins=AT-02-02&info=1
This is an expert feature meant for workflows where the region ID is already known (IDs look like AT-02-02, CH-xx, etc.).
Safety note
Avalanche bulletins are one part of decision‑making. They do not replace: training, local observations, group management, route selection, or rescue preparedness.
If the bulletin and your gut disagree, listen to your gut. It’s usually had fewer software updates.