Bregenzerwald Mountains

Fresh snowdrifts at high altitudes are prone to triggering

Fresh snowdrifts at high altitudes are prone to triggering

Fresh fallen snow are increasingly prone to triggering with ascending altitude, can be triggered as a slab or a loose-snow avalanche even by one sole skier, esp. near ridgelines and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Frequency and size of danger zones increase during the day, and with ascending altitude. Naturally triggered: small slides and loose-snow avalanches in very steep terrain.

In the coming 24 hours there will be 25-35 cm of fresh snow registered, often amid wind-impact. Fresh snow and drifts will be prone to triggering, lie deposited atop a mostly compact old snowpack surface, bonding well lately and stabilizing. In the last 72 hours there has been 60-70 cm of fresh snow registered, more from place to place. Glide cracks and reports from winter sports enthusiasts confirm the trigger-sensitivity of the snowpack. Danger zones increase in size and frequency with ascending altitude. Esp. in shady steep terrain at high altitudes, unfavourable layers have persisted, mostly triggerable by large additional loading.

Nocturnal hours: gray nighttime skies, rainfall and snowfall will be heavy, snowfall level mostly at 700-1000 m. Sunday: wintery again, reduced visibility, heavy clouds, snowfall, heavy in the morning hours, slackening off in the afternoon, then again intensifying in the evening. Cold. At 2000 m: -3 degrees. Initially brisk northerly winds, later easing.

Still uncertain how much fresh snow will arrive on Sunday night, perhaps lots. Avalanche danger remains tense.