Silvretta West

Caution urged in steep shady terrain seldom skied on and towards fresh snowdrifts

Caution urged in steep shady terrain seldom skied on and towards fresh snowdrifts

Avalanche danger mostly low. Danger zones occur mostly in steep shady terrain above 2200m, in transitions from shallow to deep snow and in areas with shallow snow. Activities in backcountry demand cautious route selection, particularly in shady steep terrain seldom skied on. Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations are prone to triggering in some places, require attentiveness in steep terrain.The danger of small-to-medium sized glide-snow avalanches continues to be difficult to assess. Caution urged below glide cracks.

The snowpack is well consolidated up to high altitudes. Particularly on shady slopes there are weak layers evident which can easily be triggered. Snowpack surfaces are often powdery on shady, wind-protected slopes. Elsewhere there are wind crusts and a melt-freeze crust evident. Elsewhere a wind crust is evident which is often capable of bearing loads, on sunny slopes there is a melt-crust. Small snowdrift accumulations are evident. During the course of the day, the superficially encrusted snowpack will moisten/soften on steep sunny slopes. Small-area fresh snowdrifts have been generated.

Nocturnal skies will be cloudy, with light precipitation intermittently, snowfall above 1500m. On Wednesday morning, a bit of final snowfall is possible, most of the day it will be dry. At midday and during the afternoon hours, some sunshine is possible. At 2000m: -1 degree. Light to moderate W/SW winds at high altitudes.

Avalanche danger levels to increase somewhat on Thursday, due to fresh snowfall and wind