Verwall Mountains West

Fresh snow and drifts prone to triggering

Fresh snow and drifts prone to triggering

Trigger-sensitive fresh snow and fresh drifts deposited atop an often weak snowpack: thus, avalanche danger above the treeline is high. Avalanches can be easily triggered even by one single winter sports enthusiast and grow to larger size. If avalanches above 2200m fracture down to weak layers they can grow even to very large size. Frequency and spread of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude and through the course of the day. Older danger zones have been blanketed by fresh snow, making them difficult to recognize. Whumpf noises and glide cracks when you tread upon the snowpack are signals of danger. In addition, increaingly frequent naturally triggered avalanches are anticipated. At low altitudes on steep grass-covered slopes, small to medium glide-snow avalanches are possible.

By Tuesday afternoon, an additional 30-50cm of fresh snow is forecast, accompanied by brisk to strong N/NW winds and transporting the fresh fallen snow. Fresh snow and drifts are not well bonded with the old snowpack, making them prone to triggering. In the uppermost part are weak layers (covered graupel inside the latest snowdrifts and at the bordering layer to the old snow). At high altitudes on shady slopes, weak layers are evident widespread in the old snowpack, down to which avalanches could fracture.

Nocturnal skies will remain gray, with light to moderate snowfall, stronger in the mountains. On Tuesday, moderate snowfall to start with, in the afternoon tapering off to light snow showers. It will remain windy and cloudy. At 2000m: -9 degrees. Brisk northerly winds, then shifting to N/NE and intensifying.

Fresh snow and drifts remain prone to triggering