Bregenzerwald Mountains

Pay close heed to snowdrift accumulations with ascending altitude

Pay close heed to snowdrift accumulations with ascending altitude

Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations are prone to triggering. Danger zones occur in steep ridgeline terrain, behind discontinutiies and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls and increase with ascending altitude. A small-to-medium slab avalanche can be triggered by 1 person. Activities in backcountry demand experience in outlying terrain and the ability to assess avalanche dangers on-site.. Naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches in rocky steep terrain are possible. Glide-snow avalanches can trigger below 2600 m at any time of day or night and reach medium size. Caution urged below glide cracks.

Fresh snow and drifts were able to settle somewhat. On high-altitude shady slopes they lie deposited atop soft layers, otherwise atop a hard old snowpack surface. Bonding is generally good. Weak trigger-prone layers are evident inside the fresh snowdrift accumulations. In addition, in high shady terrain there are near-surface weak layers evident which are trigger-prone. Warm ground and the wet snowpack base reinforce the gliding movements of the entire snowpack. Frequent glide-snow avalanches have been reported. At lower altitudes the latest fresh snow lies on bare ground.

Nocturnal hours: high-altitude clouds, but no precipitation. Wednesday daytime: pleasant weather, good visibility, some cloudbanks but the sun will dominate. In the course of the afternoon the clouds will become heavier. At 2000 m: +2 degrees. Moderate to brisk W/SW winds.

Thursday will have foehn-induced conditions, very mild, strong westerly winds (in foehn lanes, southerly winds). Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly, but fresh snowdrifts can accumulate. Glide-snow/wet-snow avalanche danger will persist.