Bregenzerwald Mountains

Wet avalanches in zones with rain, fresh high-altitude snowdrifts

Wet avalanches in zones with rain, fresh high-altitude snowdrifts

In steep rocky terrain and where there is rain impact, increasingly frequent wet-snow avalanches can be expected. On steep grass-covered slopes and over rock plates in all aspects, small glide-snow avalanches continue to be possible. Caution below glide cracks. Small snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes are prone to triggering, the occur behind discontinuities and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Small isolated medium-sized avalanches can be triggered by one person. Mind the risks of being swept along and taking a fall.

Rainfall has made the snowpack thoroughly wet up to high altitudes, forfeited its firmness. Up to nearly 1500 m there is little snow on the ground. The warm ground and wet lower layers are reinforcing the gliding movement of the entire snowpack. Strong to stormy winds are transporting the loose snow, generating trigger-prone snowdrift accumlations. They are often deposited atop soft, faceted layers. Bonding is inadequate. Near-surface layers or often prone to triggering.

Nocturnal hours: Gray skies, precipitation tapering off, snowfall level at 1800-1500 m. Friday daytime: Heavily overcast skies. In the afternoon, a new bout of rainfall and snowfall with poor visibility, snowfall level at 1700 m, on Friday night dtopping to 1000 m. At 2000 m: 0+1 degree. Brisk to strong NW winds.

On Saturday, sunshine, windy in the mountains. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.