Rätikon West

Main danger: New and fresh snowdrifts and persistent weak layer

Main danger: New and fresh snowdrifts and persistent weak layer

New and fresher snowdrifts are prone to triggering particularly in ridgeline zones, but also distant from ridgelines, wind-loaded gullies and bowls and behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain. Avalanche prone locations increase in number with ascending altitude. Small to medium slab avalanches can be triggered by one sole winter sports enthusiast. If they fracture to deeper layers they can grow to large size. Above 2400 m on steep shady slopes there are unfavourable layers in the old snowpack. Activities in backcountry demand experience in avalanche danger assessment on-site. In steep rocky terrain the fresh snow can trigger small to medium loose-snow avalanches.

The loose fresh snow was transported by strong winds, drifts now lie deposited on N/E facing slopes, blanket older snowdrift accumulations of recent days in ridgeline and pass areas in particular. Exposed zones and knolls are often windblown, gullies and bowls are filled to the brim with drifts. Fresh snow and snowdrifts often lie deposited atop loose and soft layers, on older drifted masses or atop melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack surfaces and are often riddled with graupel. Bonding to the old snowpack deteriorates with ascending altitude. At high altitudes on steep shady slopes in particular, there are still weak layers deeply embedded inside the snowpack which are not visible to the naked eye.

Nocturnal hours: gray skies, light snowfall, up to 10 cm of fresh snow is possible, amid low temperatures. Sunday: Snow showers will taper off, winds will ease, but visibility will remain reduced. Only the highest peaks of Silvretta and Rätikon will peek out of the cloud cover. Temperature at 2000 m: -12 degrees. Moderate to strong NE winds at high altitude.

Monday morning will have scattered clouds in most regions. As of midday, more clouds will move in from the east. As evening approaches light snowfall will set in. Brisk, cold NE winds will be blowing. The settling and consolidation will continue only slowly due to the low temperatures. Thus, avalanche danger will decrease only incrementally.