Lawinenlagebericht

Considerable danger in all aspects above 2000m, moderate danger below 2000m

Cloud cover will dominate in early morning, intermittent light snowfall. Later in the day, dry air masses will move in, more sunshine can be expected in afternoon. Temperatures are low and brisk E/NE winds make it feel even colder. At 2000m: -9 degrees. Brisk to strong, gusty E/NE winds at high altitude.

On Sunday, little change is expected in the avalanche situation. Sunny weather from a high-pressure front will be with us until the middle of next week. The danger of dry-snow avalanches will gradually recede.

Considerable danger in all aspects above 2000m, moderate danger below 2000m

Freshly generated snowdrifts can be triggered by one sole skier. Avalanche prone locations are found particularly on wind-loaded steep ridgeline slopes, behind protruberances and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Danger zones increase in frequency and size with ascending altitude. Triggered avalanches can grow to medium-to-large size. Weak layers in the old snow can be triggered, particularly in Rätikon, Silvretta and Verwall on NW/N/NE facing slopes, and then grow to large size. Activities in backcountry demand experience in assessing avalanche risks on-site and careful route selection.

Some snowfall yesterday amid strong gusty NW winds, generating mostly small, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations. In the afternoon the snow showers widened in scope, covering the entire land, still with strong N/NW winds which transported the fresh snow and formed further snowdrifts. There was up to 10 cm of fresh snow registered, up to 15 cm in Kleinwalsertal, Tannberg, Arlberg. On shady and east-facing slopes at high altitudes the drifts are often still prone to triggering, danger zones are blanketed and difficult to recognize. The snowpack shows huge effects of wind: exposed zones are hardened, windblown, leeward slopes, gullies and bowls are filled to the brim with drifts. At lower altitudes, wind-protected zones are powdery and soft. In Rätikon, Verwall and Silvretta the snowpack has deeply embedded weak layers. Avalanches which trigger can fracture down to those layers, especially in seldom-frequented terrain, and in isolated cases grow to large size.