Lechquellen Mountains

Main danger: weak old snowpack layers. Fresh snowdrifts require caution.

Main danger: weak old snowpack layers. Fresh snowdrifts require caution.

Particularly in high-altitude ridgeline and pass areas, as well as behind drops in the terrain, fresh snowdrift accumulations are easy to trigger. It is possible to trigger slab avalanches in the old snow particularly by large additional loading. If a release sweeps away the entire snowpack the avalanche can grow to medium size. Danger zones are located especially on steep shady slopes, but also in wind-loaded gullies and bowls in all aspects. Whumpf noises and fractures on the surface are alarm signals. Activities in outlying terrain away from secured ski runs require experience in evaluating the terrain and assessment of avalanche dangers.

There has been 5-10cm of fresh snow, locally up to 15cm, registered widespread. Particularly in ridgeline and pass areas, fresh, usually small drifted masses occur. Especially where fresh snow and drifts are deposited on top of surface hoar or on loosely-packed old snowpack layers, the bonding is poor. The old snowpack is overall unfavorably structured. Intermediate layers inside the snow cover continue to be only moderately bonded to each other.

Snowfall and freezing rain will slacken off significantly in the early part of the night. Thereafter skies will remain gloomy, with further snow showers in the mountains. On Monday, heavy cloud cover will get lodged in the barrier cloud zones of the mountains, intermittent light snowfall is expected in the morning hours. In the afternoon, dry phases will be longer and the cloud cover will slowly disperse. At 2000m: -7 degrees; at 3000m: -13 degrees. Brisk westerly winds at high altitudes.

At high altitudes, the unfavorably structured snowpack is the main danger. Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations remain prone to triggering.