Silvretta West

Caution on very steep shady slopes in high-alpine zones.

Caution on very steep shady slopes in high-alpine zones.

Winter sports enthusiasts can often trigger small-to-medium avalanches in the old snow. Danger zones occur mostly on very steep NW/N/NE-facing slopes and are difficult to recognize. Backcountry skiing tours demand a very conscious route selection. In high-altitude ridgeline terrain, fresh snowdrifts require caution. During the course of the day, esp. on steep sun-basked slopes, small wet-snow avalanches are possible. Small, in zones with heavy snowfall also medium-sized glide-snow avalanches are still possible and difficult to estimate.

On very steep shady slopes at high altitudes, there are still unfavorable intermediate layers in places. In wind-protected zones, the uppermost layers are still soft. The snowpack is thoroughly wet up to high altitudes and following good nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation is usually capable of bearing loads and is stable. During daytime hours, especially on sunny slopes, the snowpack forfeits its firmness.

Quite pleasant. Cirrus clouds passing through, intermittent sunshine. During the daytime, esp. in the Northern Alps, some convective cloud build-up which will spread. At 2000m: +2 degrees. Moderate to brisk northerly winds at high altitudes.

Danger of dry-snow avalanches will recede only slowly. On Friday, much warmer, zero-degree level at 3000m. Danger of wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches will increase.