Lechquellen Mountains

Heed snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes

Heed snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes

Main danger: fresh snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes. Danger zones occur behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. They increase in size and frequency during the course of the day. Small to medium slab avalanches can be triggered by one sole skier. Activities in backcountry demand experience in assessing the terrain and avalanche dangers on-site. In areas with rain impact in all aspects, slides and small wet-snow avalanches can be expected. On steep smooth grass-covered slopes, glide-snow avalanches are also possible.

The latest round of fresh snow lies deposited atop a moist and largely compact old snowpack surface. Intermittent strong westerly winds transported the snow, generated new snowdrifts. Fresh and older drifts are increasingly prone to triggering with ascending altitude. Due to rain, mild temperatures and reduced nocturnal outgoing radiation, the snowpack has been weakened at intermediate altitudes. At low altitudes there is only little snow on the ground.

Nocturnal hours: heavily overcast skies with snow showers down to low lying areas. In the mountains 10-20 cm of fresh snow is anticipated. Wednesday: variable conditions, clouds and fogbanks will disperse, some sunshine is likely. At 2000 m: -10 to -8 degrees. Moderate NW winds.

Thursday will be pleasant in spite of widespread cloudbanks, and milder. Danger of dry-snow avalanches will gradually diminish. Danger of wet-snow avalanches could increase again.