Bregenzerwald Mountains

Snowdrifts on shady slopes, slight daytime cycle of wet-snow avalanche activity

Snowdrifts on shady slopes, slight daytime cycle of wet-snow avalanche activity

Fresh snow and snowdrifts lie deposited atop surface hoar on a wind-protected, high-altitude shady slopes. Winter sports enthusiasts can trigger generally small-sized avalanches. Apart from being buried in snow masses, the risks of being swept along and forced to take a fall require special caution. During the course of the day, natural triggerings of small-sized wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches are possible, particularly on steep sunny slopes.

Above about 1500m there has been about 10-15cm of fresh snow regionally, below that altitude there was rainfall. The fresh-fallen snow lies deposited on sunny slopes atop a barely frozen, generally softened up surface, on shady slopes frequently atop surface hoar or a hard rain crust. The mid-level part of the snowpack consists widespread of well settled, compact layers which on shady higher-altitude slopes cover a poorly-structured old snowpack fundament. No triggerings in this weak layer of the snowpack were further registered at the Avalanche Warning Service headquarters last week.

Friday will dazzle with sunny weather. High-altitude clouds will be high above summit level, but starting at midday will bring us milky skies and slightly diffused light conditions. Temperatures will again rise at all altitudes. At 2000m: rising from 0 to +4 degrees, at 3000m: at -3 degrees. Initially light, during the afternoon intensifying southwesterly winds at high altitudes.

Avalanche danger will increase widespread starting at noon on Saturday, due to fresh snowfall and wind.