Lechtal Alps East

Natural avalanches are to be expected.

Outside marked and open pistes a very dangerous avalanche situation will prevail. From the late morning as a consequence of new snow and strong wind there will be an increase in the avalanche danger to level 4 (high). The danger exists in particular in alpine snow sports terrain.

The fresh snow and the wind slabs that are being formed by the strong westerly wind can be released easily or naturally in all aspects above the tree line. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found also in areas close to the tree line. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase during the course of the night. As the snowfall level rises more frequent natural avalanches are to be expected from the late morning. Avalanches can in some cases penetrate deep layers and reach large size. This applies on west, north and east facing slopes. On very steep slopes small and, in isolated cases, medium-sized loose snow avalanches are possible. At low and intermediate altitudes small and, in isolated cases, medium-sized gliding avalanches and wet snow slides are to be expected as the snowfall level rises. In the regions exposed to rain this applies from late morning.

20 to 30 cm of snow fell during the night. 15 to 25 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall until the evening. The wind will be strong. The fresh snow and in particular the extensive wind slabs will be deposited on a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on west, north and east facing slopes above the tree line. In some places various wind slab layers are lying on surface hoar. Faceted weak layers exist in the bottom section of the snowpack. Field observations and artificially triggered avalanches confirm the existence of a weak snowack.

High avalanche danger will persist. The conditions are very dangerous for backcountry touring and other off-piste activities. Natural avalanches are to be expected.