Pre Alps

Main danger: fresh snowdrift accumulations

Main danger: fresh snowdrift accumulations

Avalanche danger above 1800 m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Slab avalanches of medium size can be triggered even by minimum additional loading, e.g. the weight of one sole skier. Danger zones occur particularly near ridgelines, but also distant from ridgelines in steep terrain, gullies, bowls, behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain. Frequency of danger zones increases with ascending altitude. Particularly in extremely steep terrain, loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally. In addition, isolated avalanches can be triggered from the persistent weak layer, esp. in extremely steep shady terrain. Small avalanche releases are possible by large additional loading. At intermediate and high altitudes, isolated glide-snow avalanches continue to be possible on smooth, steep slopes.

There has been 25-40 cm of fresh snow registered. It fell amid heavy W/NW wind impact and was deposited atop a snowpack surface with springlike temperatures, dominated by melt-freeze crusts. Therefore, the fresh fallen snow will bond well with the rough-hewn surfaces. The stability of the snowpack is worse in wind-protected shady terrain at high altitudes due to the expansively metamorphosed (faceted) layers and wherever the fresh snow is blanketed by fresh snowdrifts. At intermediate altitudes there is little snow on the ground. At low altitudes the fresh snow was often deposited on bare ground.

Nocturnal hours: in the early part of the night some light snowfall, thereafter dry. In early morning on Tuesday the clouds will begin to disperse, temperatures will drop to -10 to -3 degrees. Tuesday: sunny weather, with some scattered clouds, higher temperatures but a cold NE wind will still whip the northern rim of the Alps. At 2000 m: -9 to -3 degrees. Brisk NE winds in the Prealps, light to moderate SE winds at higher altitudes.

Wednesday will be quite sunny, it will be milder. Due to solar radiation and warmth the fresh snow will settle and naturally triggered avalanches will increase initially. Avalanche danger levels will gradually recede of the next few days.