Bregenzerwald Mountains

Caution: beware snowdrift accumulations

Caution: beware snowdrift accumulations

Small fresh and older snowdrift accumulations in steep ridgeline terrain and behind sharp protruberances in the landscape are prone to triggering. These are often blanketed over, making them impossible to recognize. One single winter sports enthusiast can trigger small, in isolated cases medium-sized slab avalanches. Other danger zones occur on extremely steep, mostly shady slopes. In isolated cases there, small avalanches can be triggered in the old snow. Such danger zones occur particularly in transitions from shallow to deep snow, for example, at entry points into gullies and bowls. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the danger of being swept along and forced to take a fall also require caution. On sunny slopes, small loose-snow slides can trigger naturally during the course of the day.

Fresh and older snowdrift accumulations from recent days often lie deposited on top of loosely-packed snow or atop a melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack surface. They are often blanketed over, making them impossible to recognize. The fresh snow from Wednesday night often covered surface hoar. Particularly on steep shady slopes there are still unfavorable intermediate layers inside the old snowpack which have persisted. Small avalanche triggerings and fracture on the surface confirm the trigger-sensitivity of the snowpack.

Little wind, sunny winter weather for sports with few limitations created by weather. It is cold, corresponding to this juncture of the season. Temperature at 2000m: -8 to -3 degreres; at 3000m: -11 degrees. Light winds in high alpine regions.

Avalanche danger will decrease only gradually.