Weisseck, Muhr Valley

Circumvent snowdrifts esp. at high altitudes

Circumvent snowdrifts esp. at high altitudes

Avalanche danger above 1400 m is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is LOW. Snowdrift accumlations esp. on N/E facing slopes behind abrupt drops in the terrain can be triggered with increasing altitude up to high alpine regions also on south-facing slopes mostly by large additional loading. Most critical: east-facing ridgeline terrain above 2500 m and entries into steep gullies. Danger zones increase with ascending altitude. Most releases are small-to-medium, rarely large. Also the loose fresh snow can be swept away on steep slopes as a small-to-medium avalanche. Isolated naturally triggered loose and slab avalanches, esp small and medium sized in extremely steep terrain (>40°) above 2300 m, mostly wet loose-snow and glide-snow avalanches.

The fresh snow and drifts from the last few days have bonded quite well with the old snow up to 2400 m. With ascending altitude bonding deteriorates. Recent slab avalanches released from the old snowpack surface, but if further layers are swept away when a release occurs, the avalanches can then grow to large size. No further deep fractures have been observed in the old snowpack. At intermediate altitudes, rainfall on Wednesday will reduce snowpack stability, below 1400 m the snowpack is fast disappearing.

Reduced visibility due to clouds and fog, intermittent rainfall and snowfall, the snowfall level lies at 1200-1600 m. In the afternoon, showers will intensify and become heavier. Moderate northerly winds only in high alpine regions. At 2000 m: -2 degrees; at 3000 m: -8 degrees.

On Thursday, rising southerly foehn wind will transport the fresh snow and create a snowdrift problem which will become more treacherous with ascending altitude near the Main Alpine Ridge.