Bregenzerwald Mountains

Danger of slab avalanches at high altitudes, wet loose-snow avalanches at lower avalanches

Danger of slab avalanches at high altitudes, wet loose-snow avalanches at lower avalanches

Avalanches can be triggered by one single winter sports enthusiast. Danger zones occur on steep slopes in all aspects, behind drops in the landscape and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Frequency and spread of avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude. Whumpf noises and fractures which appear when treading upon the snowpack are alarm signals. Activities in outlying terrain demand cautious assessment of the terrain and careful evaluation of the dangers. The inexperienced should not leave secured ski runs. Rain impact is leading to a softening of the snowpack at low and intermediate altitudes; this can lead to naturally triggered, small-to-medium sized avalanches. Zones with glide cracks should be avoided.

All in all, 20-30cm of fresh snow was registered on Saturday from the warm front. The large amounts of fresh snow from the last few days have been repeatedly transported in varying directions, generating far-reaching snowdrift accumulations. These are often blanketed over and difficult to recognize. Bonding to the generally weak snowpack is moderate-to-weak. At intermediate altitudes the snowpack is already moist.

Rainfall and snowfall will taper off in the early part of the night. During daytime hours, partly to heavily clouded with light snow showers locally and occasional sunshine. Winds will slacken off, temperatures rise. Temperature at 2000m: rising from -2 to +2 degrees, at 3000m at -5 degrees. Moderate westerly winds at high altitudes, in high alpine regions often blowing at brisk strength.

The early part of the week will bring rising temperatures and only minor amounts of precipitation. Particularly at low and intermediate altitudes, wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches can be increasingly expected.