Avalanche Size | Description | Potential Damage | Run Out | Typical Dimensions | Example |
1 |
Small Avalanche (Sluff) |
- Unlikely to bury a person, except in run out zones with unfavourable terrain features (e.g. terrain traps)
- In extremely steep terrain, the danger of deep falls prevails the danger of burials
|
Stops within steep slopes. |
Length: 10-30 m Volume: 100 m³ |
 |
2 |
Medium Avalanche |
- May bury, injure or kill a person
- Size 2 corresponds to the typical skier-triggered avalanche
|
May reach the end of the relevant steep slope |
Length: 50-200 m Volume: 1,000 m³ |
 |
3 |
Large Avalanche |
- May bury and destroy cars, damage trucks, destroy small buildings and break a few trees
- When skiers are caught by avalanches of this size, probability for severe consequences are very high
|
May cross flat terrain (well below 30°) over a distance of less than 50 m |
Length: 300-1000 m Volume: 10,000 m³ |
 |
4 |
Very large Avalanche |
- May bury and destroy trucks and trains
- May destroy fairly large buildings and small areas of forest
- Very large avalanches may occur at danger level 3-Considerable and are typical during periods with danger levels High and Very High
|
- Crosses flat terrain (well below 30°) over a distance of more than 50 m
- May reach the valley floor
|
Length: 1-2 km Volume: 100,000 m³ |
 |
5 |
Extremely large Avalanche |
- May devastate the landscape and has catastrophic destructive potential
- Typical for danger level Very High
|
- Reaches the valley floor
- Largest known avalanche
|
Length: > 2 km Volume: > 100,000 m³ |
 |