Lechquellen Mountains

Wet-snow avalanches on steep sunny slopes during the daytime

Wet-snow avalanches on steep sunny slopes during the daytime

Avalanche danger is mostly moderate, in the afternoon in some places it is considerable. Danger zones occur above 2000 m mostly in steep shady terrain. Transitions from shallow to deep snow require caution, e.g. at entries into gullies and bowls. Avalanches can be triggered by large additional loading. Fresh small snowdrift accumulations should be avoided in high-altitude exposed terrain, esp. on shady slopes. A cautious route selection is recommended. Due to higher temperatures and solar radiation, small-to-medium, in isolated cases also large-sized wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches are possible on very steep sunny slopes during the course of the day.

In the upper part of the snowpack there are expansively metamorphosed weak layers. More deeply embedded layers are usually adequately blanketed, seldom triggerable. Most triggerable are transitions from shallow to deep snow, unfortunately not visible to the naked eye. In higher altitude exposed zones, small snowdrift accumulations are prone to triggering. On very steep sunny slopes and at lower altitudes there is a melt-freeze crust in the early morning hours. Elsewhere the snowpack is still powdery. At intermediate altitudes on shady slopes more than anywhere else, surface hoar can be found. Through daytime warming and solar radiation the snowpack forfeits its firmness on steep sunny slopes. Naturally triggered smnall-to-medium wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches have been observed, also some large-sized releases.

Nocturnal hours: nighttime skies will be cloudless, the air very dry. Wednesday: cloudless skies once again and mild. At 2000 m: 2-7 degrees. Light SW winds.

Persistently sunny, some regional cloudbanks, no significant change in avalanche danger levels is expected. The risks of wet-snow avalanches will diminish as temperatures recede.