Bregenzerwald Mountains

Persistent wet-snow avalanches, fresh snowdrift accumulations during the course of the day

Persistent wet-snow avalanches, fresh snowdrift accumulations during the course of the day

As a result of fresh snow and strong NW winds, mostly small but trigger-prone snowdrift accumulations will be generated in the course of the day. Near-surface layers and older drifts are still prone to triggering. Such danger zones occur mostly in transitions from shallow to deeper snow or on heavily wind-loaded slopes. Avalanches can be triggered by large additional loading and grow to medium size. Backcountry sports require prudent route selection. Caution urged near cornices. The situation is more critical at high altitudes, loose-snow avalanches are possible esp. in steep sunny and rocky tererain. Glide-snow avalanches are still a threat on steep grass-covered and rocky slopes in all aspects, avoid zones below glide cracks.

At high altitudes the snowdrifts of recent days have bonded will with the old snowpack layers, uppermost layers of the snowpack are often still trigger-prone at high altitudes. Following clear nights the snowpack is encrusted or icy up to high altitudes. During the course of the day, heavy snowfall is anticipated, by evening up to 10-15 cm is expected, then transported by strong NW winds. The warm ground and the moist-to-wet snowpack are reinforcing gliding snow movement. Up to 1500 m there is little snow on the ground, esp. on sunny slopes.

Nocturnal hours: In the early part of the night, clear skies, clouding up from the north after midnight. Thursday daytime: Moderate to heave snowfall from the north arriving by midday, rainfall below 1300 to 1100 m. At 2000 m: -1 degree. Brisk to strong N/W winds.

By Friday morning, a few cm of fresh snow is expected, then dry conditions will return. Avalanche danger will rise somewhat on Thursday night. On the weekend, danger will gradually recede.