Avalanche forecast

Wet-snow + glide-snow avalanches at low altitudes due to warmth and rain, favourable conditions at high altitude

Wet-snow + glide-snow avalanches at low altitudes due to warmth and rain, favourable conditions at high altitude

Particularly in regions where snowfall has been heaviest, small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches are possible on steep grass-covered slopes and hillsides which have not yet discharged. Cracks in the snowpack are danger signals. On very steep high-altitude shady slopes and in extremely steep terrain, small-to-medium slab avalanches can trigger by large additional loading in transitions from shallow to deep snow, e.g. at entries into gullies and bowls or in spots where snow is shallow. Particularly in high-altitude ridgeline terrain, caution urged towards fresh, small drifts.

Yesterday there was intermittent rainfall below 1300-1600 m, above that there was a few centimetres of fresh snow registered and with ascending altitude small, fresh snowdrifts. Southern regions enjoyed more frequent dry phases. At intermediate and low altitudes the snowpack has been weakened by mild temperatures and some rain impact. In the latter part of the night clouds began to disperse and a melt-freeze crust formed which then softens during the daytime. On high altitude, very steep and shady slopes there are weak layers at mid-level in the snowpack or trigger-sensitive snowdrifts. On high altitude shady slopes the upper layers are often loose and powdery or blanketed with surface hoar. Elsewhere there are melt-freeze crusts and wind crusts.

High pressure front conditions will be short, with a tendency towards foehn wind. That will provide pleasant weather in the morning with sunshine, before heavy cloud moves in starting at midday. The cloud cover will descend in the afternoon, towards evening the higher peaks will disappear in fog. In evening and early night there will be precipitation, a bit of new snow above 1500 m. Temperature at 2000 m: -2 to 0 degrees. Moderate to brisk W/SW winds at high altitude.

The next major round of precipitation with rainfall up to high altitudes is forecast for mid-week. Avalanche danger will then increase.