Pollein and Saint-Marcel

With the onset of the intense precipitation, the natural avalanche activity will gradually increase. The new snow of Sunday represents the main danger.

With the onset of the intense precipitation, the natural avalanche activity will gradually increase. The new snow of Sunday represents the main danger.

25 to 60 cm of snow will fall on Sunday above approximately 2500 m. As a consequence of highly fluctuating temperatures and sleet an unfavourable avalanche situation will develop in the course of the day. These meteorological conditions will bring about a rise in the danger of dry and wet avalanches in particular in the regions exposed to substantial precipitation. The backcountry touring conditions in the morning are unfavourable. Especially in starting zones where no previous releases have taken place medium-sized and large dry and wet avalanches are possible. Caution is to be exercised in particular in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow on very steep north facing slopes above approximately 2800 m. In steep gullies the avalanches can also reach fairly large size. Additionally in very isolated cases avalanches can penetrate near-ground layers of the snowpack. The more recent wind slabs are mostly small and to be assessed with care and prudence. They are to be found in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls and in the high Alpine regions. These can be released, even by small loads in isolated cases.

5 to 10 cm of snow, but less in some localities, has fallen above approximately 2800 m. On Saturday on very steep slopes numerous small and medium-sized avalanches were reported. The sleet will give rise on Sunday to a loss of strength within the snowpack. Outgoing longwave radiation during the night will be reduced. The spring-like weather conditions will give rise to rapid moistening of the snowpack over a wide area. These conditions will foster a substantial settling of the near-surface layers in particular below approximately 2500 m. At high altitudes and in high Alpine regions snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. Individual weak layers exist in the snowpack in shady places that are protected from the wind, especially above approximately 2400 m.

As a consequence of the precipitation there will be a gradual increase in the danger of dry and wet avalanches.