Boletín de aludes

Widespread daytime rise in avalanche danger due to fresh snow and snow transport

Widespread daytime rise in avalanche danger due to fresh snow and snow transport

Fresh snow and snowdrifts are prone to triggering, they can be unleashed even by one single winter sports enthusiast, Particularly on high-altitude shady steep slopes, the snowpack can fracture down to deeper layers. These avalanche prone locations are not visible to the naked eye. Whumpf noises and cracks in the snowpack are red flags. Activities outside the secured public ski slopes demand experience in avalanche evaluation on-site and knowledge of the terrain. As a result of additional snowfall and winds which will transport the fresh snow, avalanche danger will increase further during the course of the day. Towards evening, even naturally triggered avalanches are possible, some of which will be large-sized. Exposed zones can be placed at risk.

By early this morning there was 5-10 cm of fresh snow registered widespread which fell with intermittent strong-wind influence. Thus, in ridgeline and pass areas, as well as behind protruberances in the landscape, snowdrift accumulations were repeatedly formed anew. Fresh snow and freshly generated drifts were deposited on top of a consolidated, in some places rain-encrusted and settled old snowpack up to nearly 1800 m. Bonding to the old snowpack surface, which is riddled with graupel, is only moderate to poor, and is prone to triggering in some places. At mid-level inside the snowpack on high-altitude shady slopes there are expansively metamorphosed (faceted) crystals.

During the course of the morning, precipitation will spread throughout Vorarlberg. Snowfall will be intermittently heavy and extend down to low lying areas. Temperature at 2000 m: dropping from -3 to -7 degrees. High altitude winds will be blowing initially at strong velocity from south-to-southwest, slackening off later on.

Tonight and during the daytime on Thursday, additional snowfall is anticipated. It will remain cold. As a result of further fresh snow and drifts, the avalanche situation will remain tense. Andreas Pecl