Lechquellen Mountains

Beware freshly generated snowdrifts

Beware freshly generated snowdrifts

Fresh snowdrifts are prone to triggering, can be triggered even by minimum additional loading as slab avalanches. Danger zones occur primarily in steep ridgeline terrain and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Frequency and spread of avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude. If avalanches on high-altitude shady slopes fracture down to deeper weak layers, they can in isolated cases then grow to large size. Such avalanche prone locations occur primarily in spots where the snow is shallow or in transitions from shallow to deep snow.

The most recent fresh snow from the weekend has already bonded well with the widespread melt-freeze crust. Surface hoar has frequently been blanketed by fresh snow on steep shady slopes. Fresh snowdrifts have been generated near ridgelines. The mid-level part of the snowpack consists of well-settled, compact layers widespread which on high-altitude shady slopes cover a poorly structured old snowpack fundament.

Brilliant sunshine during daytime hours, with good visibility. Only the gusty easterly winds will disturb. Temperatures will rise slightly: at 2000m: -4 to -1 degree; at 3000m: to -7 degrees. Brisk to strong-velocity easterly winds winds at high altitudes, later slackening off.

Avalanche danger will not change significantly. Beware freshly generated snowdrift accumulations.