Fischbach Alps East, Wechsel

Snowdrift accumulations on north-facing slopes.

Snowdrift accumulations on north-facing slopes.

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate. Avalanche prone locations occur on NW/N/NE facing slopes more than anywhere else. Fresh snowdrift accumulations have been generated, can be triggered even by the weight of one single person. Special caution is urged at entry points into gullies and bowls (shallow to deep snow).

The huge amounts of snowdrifted masses from the last few days have been able to settle. More deeply embedded inside the snowpack are layers of faceted crystals and melt-freeze crusts which weaken the entire snowpack. On steep south-facing slopes a melt-freeze crust has formed.On Wednesday afternoon, southerly winds transported the snow to northwest-facing slopes. On Thursday winds will be blowing at strong velocity, new drifts will be deposited in gullies, bowls and behind abrupt discontinuties in the terrain. The drifts are deposited atop a layer with surface hoar. Bonding between fresh drifts and the old snowpack is insufficient.

On Friday, not utterly sunny weather, the air current will shift to northwesterly, high-altitude cirrus clouds will move in, despited the sunshine. Dry. Light winds. At 2000 m: -7 degrees. On Saturday, warmth will be palpable in the mountains, often heavy cloud, then sunshine again. No rainfall or snowfall is expected. Winds will be risk to strong from NW directions, moderate in the rimline ranges. At 2000 m: 0 degrees.

No significant change in avalanche danger levels is expected.