Lechquellen Mountains

Main danger: fresh snowdrift accumulations and weak layers in the old snow

Main danger: fresh snowdrift accumulations and weak layers in the old snow

Fresh snow and snowdrifts are prone to triggering particularly in ridgeline zones, wind-loaded gullies ad bowls and behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain. They tend to increase with ascending altitude. Small to medium slab avalanches can be triggered by one sole winter sports anthusiast. If they fracture to deeper layers they can grow to large size. Also, above 2400 m on steep shady slopes there are unfavourable layers in the old snowpack. In very steep terrain and heavily wind-loaded zones, small slab avalanches and increasingly frequent slides can trigger naturally.

The latest batch of fresh fallen snow was transported far-reachingly at high altitudes. Fresh snow and drifts are prone to triggering. They lie deposited atop loose and soft layers or melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack surfaces. Bonding deteriorates with ascending altitude. At high altitudes on shady slopes in particular, there are still weak layers evident deeply embedded inside the snowpack fundament. These danger zones are not visible to the naked eye. Below 1800 m the snow is often falling on bare ground.

Nocturnal hours: the skies will be heavily overcast, light snowfall from region to region. The snowfall level will lie initially at 1000 m, then ascend in early morning to nearly 1500 m as the precipitation slackens off. Wednesday: for a spell, diffuse light conditions can be expected. As a result of strong westerly winds, it will be very mild, the zero-degree level will ascend temporarily to about 2000 m. In the afternoon, compact cloud cover will shroud the sun, renewed snowfall will set in from the NW. At 2000 m: +1 degree. Winds initially strong, later stormy, from the west.

Thursday will be variably cloud, windy in the mountains. In the afternoon, light precipitation will set in. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.