Pre Alps

Watch out for small snowdrift accumulations

Watch out for small snowdrift accumulations

Avalanche danger levels above the treeline are moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Fresh, mostly small snowdrift accumulations are often prone to triggering with ascending altitude. Small avalanches can often be triggered by one sole skier. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, adequate consideration must be given to the danger of being swept along and forced to take a fall. Backcountry tours necessitate a cautious route selection. Danger of small - in isolated cases, medium-sized - glide snow avalanches continues to be difficult to assess. Caution urged below glide cracks.

Fresh snow registered (10-20cm, locally more), deposited on a largely well consolidated old snowpack, then transported by initially SW winds, then northerly winds. The initially shallow snowpack accumulations are often prone to triggering. Esp. on shady slopes and in wind-protected zones at high altitudes, snowdrift will be deposited atop a loose snowpack surface, often atop breakable crusts, sometimes on crusts which can carry loads and on steep sunny slopes atop a melt-freeze crust.

Wintery cold. Compact clouds will generate moderate snowfall, slackening off as the day unfolds, this afternoon only minor showers. Bright spells as evening nears. Temperatures dropping. At 2000m:-10 to -13 degrees. Moderate northerly winds.

Avalanche danger levels will slowly recede.