Lawinenlagebericht

Above 2000 m: moderate avalanche danger

Above 2000 m: moderate avalanche danger

Above about 2000 m, avalanche danger is moderate. Fresh snowdrift accumulations are the main danger. Avalanche prone locations are found on wind-impacted steep slopes and in gullies, bowls, behind protruberances. Frequency and spread of the danger zones will increase with ascending altitude during the day. Particularly on shady slopes, small-to-medium sized avalanches can easily be triggered. In additional, in isolated cases in steep terrain, the surface-near layers of the old snowpack can be triggered; they are generally small releases, however. Such avalanche prone locations are found in high-alpine ridgeline areas and on extremely steep, mostly shady slopes. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow, the hazards of falling and being swept along also need to be taken into consideration.

Last night there was 5 cm of fresh snow registered widespread, up to 10 cm on the Arlberg and in the Allgäu Alps, amid strong-to-very strong NW winds. On sunny slopes the surface is mostly encrusted, on shady slopes without wind impact the snow is powdery up to high altitudes. The stormy NW winds are transporting the new and (on shady slopes) loose old snow, generating fresh, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations on shady slopes in particular. At high altitudes with wind influence and in exposed ridgeline terrain, the snowpack surface shows striking impact from wind influence. Older snowdrift accumulations have persisted in high altitude zones in particular. The old snowpack is generally well consolidated and is stable. Weak layer near melt-freeze crusts embedded at mid-level of the snowpack layering are generally triggerable only by maximum additional loading.

Stormy NW winds will create inhospitable conditions, with clouds, fog and highly variable visibility, and snow showers. Most of the new snow will fall in Bregenzerwald and the barrier regions of the Arlberg, the amounts will be minor. In the afternoon, showers will slacken off significantly, clouds will begin to disperse. Temperature at 2000 m: -8 degrees. Strong to stormy NW winds at high altitude.

Due to strong-to-stormy NW winds, the next perturbance will arrive on Sunday. Depending on amounts of precipitation, avalanche danger levels could rise.