Osterhorn Group,Gamsfeld Group

Natural gliding snow activity and trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations at high altitude

Natural gliding snow activity and trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations at high altitude

Avalanche danger is moderate. Glide-snow and loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally on some very steep slopes and then grow to medium size. Above the timberline the fresh snowdrifts are prone to triggering and can be released by one sole skier. Avalanches can reach medium size in isolated cases.

At high altitudes 20-40cm of further fresh snow with wind impact is expected. Prior to the precipitation on sunny slopes there was no snow on the ground, snow on shady slopes was thoroughly wet. Inside the drifts, trigger-sensitive weak layers can rapidly form. Where the ground was bare of snow before this round of precipitation, the entire snowpack can now glide away.

On Monday, clouds will accumulate due to strong-velocity W/NW winds, frequent snow showers will pass through. From tomorrow until Tuesday morning, 30-60cm of fresh snowfall is expected at high altitudes, winds will reach 70 km/hr and transport the fresh fallen snow. At 2000m: -6 degrees; at 3000m: -13 degrees.

Proneness of snowdrifts triggering will decrease slightly on Tuesday