Lechquellen Mountains

Attention winter sports enthusiasts: critical conditions at high altitudes

Attention winter sports enthusiasts: critical conditions at high altitudes

High avalanche danger prevails. Main problem: fresh snow and fresh snowdrift accumulations. Slab avalanches can trigger naturally in many places or else by minimum additional loading, e.g. one sole person. Also remote triggerings are possible. Avalanches can grow to large size and in isolated cases endanger exposed regions. Danger zones occur in steep terrain in all aspects, also distant from ridgelines, especially behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain and in gullies and bowls. Frequency and spread of danger zones increase with ascending altitude above the treeline. Whumpf noises and glide-cracks in the snowpack are signals of imminent danger. Activities in backcountry terrain demand restraint. The inexperienced should not leave the secured ski runs. In addition, on steep, seldom-tracked shady slopes at high altitudes, more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack can be triggered by large additional loading. Furthermore, medium-to-large sized loose-snow avalanches are possible in rocky steep terrain, particularly in the case of solar radiation.

As a result of intermittently strong-to-storm strength winds, the most recent batch of fresh fallen snow is being transported. More trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations are being generated. Fresh snow and snowdrifts often lie deposited atop unfavourable old snowpack surfaces consisting of surface hoar, melt-freeze encrusted or softened layers. Bonding of fresh snow and drifts to these layers and also inside the snowpack itself is frequently poor. At high altitudes on steep shady slopes there are still older unfavourable intermediate layers inside the snowpack which are not visible to the naked eye. Naturally and artificially triggered reeleases, stability tests and reports from observers confirm the proneness to triggering of the snowpack.

Nocturnal hours: final snow showers will come to an end, most of the night will be dry. Sunday: thoroughly sunny. Starting at midday, clouds will move in from the northwest, visibility deteriorate, it will become cold and windy. At 2000 m: -7 degrees. Brisk to strong northerly winds.

The forecast for Monday is still uncertain, probably scattered clouds in the morning and snow showers in the afternoon. Avalanche danger will recede.