Goldberg Group Central

Fresh trigger-sensitive drifts, danger zones increase with ascending altitude

Fresh trigger-sensitive drifts, danger zones increase with ascending altitude

Fresh snowdrift accumulations are often prone to triggering and difficult to recognize on Monday. Danger zones occur in gullies and bowls above 2200 m on NW/N/SE facing slopes, increase with ascending altitude, mostly medium-sized. Gliding snow activity will remain upright. Danger zones occur in all aspects up to 2400 m. Glide-snow avalanches can trigger anytime on steep grassy slopes and smooth rocky ground, and reach medium size. Avoid zones below glide cracks. Due to rain impact and mild temperatures, small wet-snow avalanches are possible on extremely steep slopes at low and intermediate altitudes. Above 2500 m, weak layers in the old snowpack can be triggered. Danger zones occur esp. on shady slopes in transitioins from shallow to deeper snow, triggering usually requires large additional loading. Superficial releases (drifts) can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers of the snowpack, in isolated cases grow to large size.

Fresh snowdrift accumulations esp on shady high altitude slopes lie atop a loose snowpack and are prone to triggering there. Difficult to recognize. On smooth ground (grass, rocks) which are steep enough, the entire snowpack can glide. The lowermost part of the snowpack has numerous melt-freeze crusts between which are faceted crystals, esp. on north-facing slopes and at high altitudes. The weak layers are most prevalent on shady slopes with shallow snow. Due to rain impact and mild temperatures, small wet-snow avalanches are possible on extremely steep slopes at low and intermediate altitudes.

On Tuesday along the Northern Alps heavy cloud will pass through, better visibility in inneralpine regions, a bit of sunshine. As of midday, clouds will move in from the west creating diffuse light conditions. Later on, precipitation will start in the west, snowfall above 1500-1800 m. Moderate to strong westerly winds. At 2000 m: -1 to +1 degree; at 1500 m 0 to -4 degrees, at 3000 m -5 to -7 degrees.

Avalanche danger is not expected to change significantly.