Lechquellen Mountains

Significant increase in avalanche danger

Significant increase in avalanche danger

Avalanche danger will increase significantly as a result of intensive precipitation and storm-strength winds, reaching during morning hours Danger Level 4 (“high”) above 2000m. Snowdrift accumulations can easily be triggered by one single winter sports enthusiast in all aspects. Danger zones occur in steep terrain near to and distant from ridgelines, behind drops in the terrain, and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Frequency and spread of avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude and during the course of the day. Starting in the morning, increasingly frequent naturally triggered avalanches can be expected. The danger is focused in particular on alpine terrain for snow sports. Triggered avalanches, moreover, can fracture down to deeper layers inside the snowpack and thereby grow to large size. Whump noises and fractures appearing on the surface when treading on it, as well as freshly released avalanches, are alarm signals. Activitiers in outlying terrain demand restraint. The inexperienced should not leave secured ski runs.

Overnight there was 15-20cm of fresh snow registered. During the daytime an additional 20cm is anticipated, in the Arlberg and Verwall up to 40cm additionally. The storm-strength westerly-to-northwesterly winds will massively transport the loosely-packed snow and generate far-reaching, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations. The fresh and older drifts frequently lie deposited atop graupel, in wind-protected zones atop surface hoar or on trigger-sensitive, shallow melt-freeze encrusted layers. Also still trigger-sensitive older snowdrift accumulations and a weak old snowpack with marked weak layers will be blanketed with fresh snowfall.

Ugly weather condidtions in the mountains: from dense clouds, daytime snowfall at light-to-moderate intensity, strong-velocity winds will generate heavy snow transport and significant wind-chill. Temperatures will drop, the snowfall level descend to nearly 1000m and below. Temperature at 2000m: -5 degrees; at 3000m: -12 degrees. Strong to storm-strength westerly-to-northwesterly winds at high altitudes.

On Tuesday avalanche danger will increase within the same danger level as a result of further snowfall