Pollein and Saint-Marcel

The new snow is bonding only slowly with the old snowpack. The danger of dry and wet avalanches will already be elevated in the early morning.

The new snow is bonding only slowly with the old snowpack. The danger of dry and wet avalanches will already be elevated in the early morning.

As a consequence of falling temperatures and snowfall above approximately 2000 m a dangerous avalanche situation will develop. The backcountry touring conditions are unfavourable. These meteorological conditions will bring about a rise in the danger of dry and wet avalanches in particular in the regions exposed to substantial precipitation. Especially in starting zones where no previous releases have taken place medium-sized and large dry and wet avalanches are possible. In particular in regions exposed to heavier precipitation and at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions such avalanche prone locations are more prevalent and the danger is slightly greater. Caution is to be exercised in particular on very steep north facing slopes above approximately 2800 m. Additionally in some places avalanches can penetrate near-ground layers of the snowpack. The avalanches can in very isolated cases reach intermediate altitudes.

In some regions 40 to 80 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall above approximately 2400 m. Since Saturday on very steep slopes numerous small to medium-sized avalanches were reported. The sleet gave rise on Sunday to a loss of strength within the snowpack. Outgoing longwave radiation during the night will be reduced. The spring-like weather conditions gave rise to rapid moistening of the snowpack over a wide area. These conditions facilitated a substantial settling of the near-surface layers in particular below approximately 2500 m. At high altitudes and in high Alpine regions snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. Individual weak layers exist in the snowpack in shady places that are protected from the wind, especially above approximately 2400 m.

As a consequence of the ceasing of precipitation there will be only a very slight increase in the danger of dry and wet avalanches.