Lechquellen Mountains

Fresh snowdrifts accumulating: considerable danger at high altitudes

Fresh snowdrifts accumulating: considerable danger at high altitudes

Fresh drifts are trigger-prone at high altitude and on steep shady slopes. A small-to-medium slab and in steep terrain also loose-snow avalanche can be triggered by 1 person. Such danger zones will increase with ascending altitude. Snowdrift masses in steep terrain should be avoided. Glide-snow avalanches can trigger at any time of day or night and grow to medium size in zones where snowfall has been heavy. Caution below glide-cracks.

Due to persistent southerly foehn wind, fresh snowdrift accumulations are being generated ongoingly, deposited atop a soft sufrace and often atop surface hoar, esp. on shady slopes at high altitudes. Bonding is often poor-to-moderate. The old snowpack is compact and stable. A low and intermediate altitudes the snowpack is wet down to the ground. On sunny slopes a breakable crust forms at night.

Nocturnal hours: Foehn impact, dry, with heavily overcast skies, strong-to-stormy southerly winds in the classic foehn lanes. Sunday daytime: Far-reaching clouds, little sunshine (likeliest in Allgäu Alps) In Rätikon and Silvretta the peaks will be veiled in fog from the start, light snowfall expected. In afternoon, foehn-induced snow showers will spread northwards. At 2000 m: +1 to -2 degrees. Strong to stormy southerly winds, in afternoon slackening off significantly.

Starting on Monday, snowdrift problem will recede, amidst light to moderate winds.