Fischbach Alps East, Wechsel

Low avalanche danger - thin snowdrift patches behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain

The fresh fallen snow on Monday is being transported by storm-strength SW to NW winds to extended east-facing slopes. There, particularly near ridgelines and behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain, snowpack patches will be generated which are poorly bonded with the old melt-freeze encrusted snowpack surface above 1600 m. Even if the snowfall makes the slopes turn white again, snow depths in general are still extremely below average.

Low avalanche danger - thin snowdrift patches behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain

Avalanche danger is LOW. Danger zones are being generated by freshly formed snowdrift accumulations, small and near to ridgelines and behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain. Poor visibility makes it more difficult to recognize the avalanche prone locations. In icy and melt-freeze encrusted summit zones, the risks of being forced to take a fall require attentiveness.

As the result of the cold front and a low over Italy which came from the south, gray skies will be our lot on Monday. Clouds will be heavy right from the start, visibility will be poor, light to medium snowfall is anticipated. Snowfall level in early morning in northern regions at 1400 m, in southern regions at 1700 m, descending to about 800 m by afternoon. By Tuesday, 10-20 cm of fresh snow is anticipated, up to 30 cm in the Totes Gebirge. Winds will shift from southwesterly to northwesterly and remain strong. At 2000 m, temperatures dropping from -2 to -6 degrees.

On Tuesday, NW winds will intensify to storm strength, even reach gale strength. Cloud cover will disperse during the daytime, the precipitation will recede to the NW regions. Temperatures will continue to drop. At midday at 2000 m: -8 degrees. As a result of the strong winds, snowdrift accumulations will move to lower altitude zones, down to the timberline.