Lechtal Alps East

For those venturing off piste a precarious avalanche situation will prevail.

For those venturing off piste a precarious avalanche situation will prevail.

The danger exists primarily in alpine snow sports terrain. As a consequence of mild temperatures, snowfall above approximately 2200 m and the strong to storm force northwesterly wind, a precarious avalanche situation will develop on Christmas Day. Even single freeriders can release avalanches in many places. Avalanches can penetrate down to the ground and reach quite a large size especially in the regions with a lot of snow, especially on shady slopes above approximately 2200 m, and on sunny slopes above approximately 2400 m. Caution is to be exercised in particular adjacent to ridgelines, as well as in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. The avalanche prone locations are difficult to recognise. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible. Great caution and restraint are required. In addition natural avalanches are possible. This applies in all aspects at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions. All aspects below approximately 2200 m: As the penetration by moisture increases more moist and wet snow slides are possible.

In particular in the north and in the west over a wide area 30 to 50 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall until Saturday above approximately 2200 m. As a consequence of new snow and a sometimes storm force wind from northwesterly directions, extensive wind slabs will form. These will be deposited on a weakly bonded old snowpack in particular on west to north to east facing aspects above approximately 2200 m. The various wind slabs have bonded poorly together. The rain will give rise to gradual and thorough wetting of the snowpack over a wide area below approximately 2200 m.

Sunday: Outside marked and open pistes a precarious avalanche situation will persist. Restraint is advisable on this first sunny day.