Goldberg Group Central

Naturally triggered avalanches possible from early in the morning

Naturally triggered avalanches possible from early in the morning

The avalanche risk is considerable below 3000 metres and moderate above that. Large spontaneous wet snow avalanches are possible. Particularly at risk are steep areas in the extended northern sector between 2200 m and 2600 m, terrain that has not yet been discharged on high east, west and south-facing slopes, and generally those aspects where there is still a lot of snow. In wet snow, avalanches can tear through to the ground, run untypically far and penetrate into the green.

Above around 2400 m, in the steep terrain from west to north to east, there are individual avalanche prone locations in the dry persistent weak layer, high alpine also in the southern sector. Take care in the transitions from little to lots of snow. Above 2200m, fresh wind slab forms with the snowfall. Mostly small avalanches can be triggered there in places by slight additional load, be aware of the risk of falling.

Reduced outgoing longwave radiation at night prevents the formation of a stable melt-freeze crust. The snowpack consists of compact snow that is characterised by rain up to high altitudes, but softer layers are embedded, especially at higher altitudes, which enable near-surface fractures. On shady slopes from around 2400 metres, there are still weak layers of angular forms and deep rime in the old snowpack close to the ground. The snowpack is moist to wet up to high altitudes. Low and sunny slopes are snowed out.

The cumulus clouds will dissipate during the night to Sunday. In the second half of the night, however, extensive clouds will spread again. On Sunday, too, many clouds will move through with a freshening north-westerly wind. There may be rain and snow showers in the afternoon. By the evening, around 10 cm of new fallen snow will accumulate at high altitudes, which will be deposited very differently by the wind. It will cool down in the afternoon, with the temperature dropping from 5 to 1 degree at 2000 metres and around -3 degrees at 3000 metres. The snowfall level will drop from 2200 to around 1800 metres during the day. The wind will be light for the time being, shifting to the north-west and freshening from midday.

The outgoing longwave radiation at night is limited and it is slightly cooler. The danger of wet avalanches remains.