Weisseck, Muhr Valley

Isolated persistent weak layer on shady high altitudes slopes

Isolated persistent weak layer on shady high altitudes slopes

Weak layers inside the old snowpack can on shady slopes above approximately 2300 m still be triggered, particularly on wind-protected slopes at the foot of rock walls or behind abrupt discontinuties in the terrain. Danger zones are rare, difficult to recognize. Avalanches can grow to medium size. The no longer fresh snowdrift accumulations of recdent days can not be quite as easily triggered, except in very steep ridgeline shady terrain above about 2600 m. The danger zones are generally easy to recognize, should be circumvented most of all in terrain where one could be forced to take a fall. In addition, the rising temperatures and some sunshine make some naturally triggered loose-snow slides likely on exteemely steep slopes or hillsides, as well as glide-snow avalanches on steep grass-covered slopes. This applies to above 2400 m. Due to the shallow snowpack, releases will remain small-sized.

The snowpack is unfavourable over widespread areas and still shallow. On high alpine shady slopes the layering is often unfavourable: a sequence of melt-freeze crusts and faceted crystals inside the fundament, in places with blanketed surface hoar. This applies particularly to wind-protected terrain. Fresh and new snowdrifts from the end of last week ahve settled thanks to mild temperatures, they are no longer prone to triggering. The rising southerly winds along the Main Alpine Ridge on Monday night will not be able to transport much snow. Only on the very steep shady slopes at high altitudes, isolated small snowdrift accumulations can be generated and older snowdrifts be triggered. Due to the warm temperatures the snowpack has been moistened up to high altitudes. On Tuesday the trend will continue. As a result of increasing moistening of the shallow snowpack, slides of the unbonded snow masses on extremely steep slopes will occur, as well as increasing glide-snow avalanche activity on steep grassy slopes.

Tuesday: good visibility, lots of sunshine, high cloudbanks will pass through above summit level, provide diffuse light conditions. Winds will be southerly and light. At 2000 m: 7 degrees, at 3000 m: 3 degrees. Wednesday: still good visibility in the morning hours, despite some cloudbanks. In the afternoon, visibility will deteriorate, rainfall/snowfall will set in. The snowfall level will lie at 1600 m. Winds will be brisk from S/W. Temperatures will recede: at 2000 m, 0 degrees, at 3000 m, -3 degrees.

No significant change.