International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings - Montana State University Library

Item: REVISING THE EUROPEAN AVALANCHE DANGER SCALE: PROCESS, FINAL PROPOSAL, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION

• • Title: REVISING THE EUROPEAN AVALANCHE DANGER SCALE: PROCESS, FINAL PROPOSAL, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION

    Proceedings: Proceedings, International Snow Science Workshop, Whistler, BC, Canada, 2026

    Authors:

    • Karsten Müller  [ Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, Oslo, Norway ]
    • Frank Techel  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
    • Christoph Mitterer  [ Avalanche Warning Service Tyrol, Innsbruck, Austria ]
    • Philip A. Ebert  [ University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria ]
    • Ben Reuter  [ CEN, Météo-France, CNRS, Grenoble, France ]
    • Veronika Krieger  [ GeoSphere Austria, Avalanche Warning Service Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria ]
    • Igor Chiambretti  [ AINEVA, Italy ]
    • Anne Dufour  [ CEN, Météo-France, CNRS, Grenoble, France ]
    • Guillem M. Bellido  [ Andorran Weather and Avalanche Service ]
    • Lorenzo Bertranda  [ MeteoMont Carabinieri ]

    Date: 2026-09-28

    Abstract: The European Avalanche Danger Scale (EADS) is the central framework for communicating regional avalanche danger in Europe. Since its introduction in 1993, the scale has supported harmonized danger levels across warning services and has become a key reference in avalanche education and public warning products. However, operational forecasting workflows have evolved. Modern forecasting workflows increasingly rely on structured decision-support tools, while the EADS is increasingly used as a public communication tool. The European Avalanche Warning Services (EAWS) therefore revised the EADS through a structured process combining scientific literature, analyses of operational EAWS Matrix usage data from 2022 to 2025, an international user survey with more than 17,000 valid responses, and two review rounds among EAWS member services. The revision was guided by three principles: simplicity, accuracy and differentiation. The final proposal separates technical descriptions for forecasters from the public danger scale. It replaces the former stability and likelihood descriptors with user-oriented descriptions of avalanche occurrence and avalanche size, adds advice for backcountry travel, and includes an optional column for public safety authorities. This paper describes the EAWS revision process, presents the final proposal to be voted on at the upcoming General Assembly, and briefly explains the main choices and remaining decisions before implementation.

    Object ID: ISSW2026_O3.3.pdf

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.15788/1790098569

    Language of Article: English

    Presenter(s): Karsten Müller

    Keywords: Avalanche danger scale; avalanche hazard; risk communication; avalanche forecasting; EAWS; European Avalanche Warning Services

    Page Number(s): 1097 - 1104

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