Avalanche forecast

Often still trigger-sensitive: older snowdrift accumulations on high alpine ridges, extremely steep slopes

Often still trigger-sensitive: older snowdrift accumulations on high alpine ridges, extremely steep slopes

Favourable conditions prevail, avalanche danger is low. Isolated slabs and loose-snow avalanches can be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts in the uppermost layers of the old snowpack, but these are generally small-sized. Such danger zones are mostly in high alpine ridgeline terrain, on extremely steep, usually shady slopes. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow, the hazards of being swept along and taking a fall need to be considered.

The snow from the last few days has been able to settle further. On shady slopes it lies atop cold, powdery layers of old snow. On sunny slopes, often atop melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack surfaces. The zero-deggee level has lain at 2200 m in the last few days. Shady surfaces are often thinly encrusted, skiing it hardly disturbs. Stark wind influence is visible. Older drifts have persisted at high altitude. Bonding to them and inside the new layers themselves is generally good, but worsens with ascending altitude. The old snowpack is well consolidated and stable. Weak layers beneath melt-freeze crusts at mid-level of the snowpack can ordinarily be triggered only by large additional loading.

Fine weather in the mountains, high cloud might impede the sunshine somewhat, create diffuse light. Mild, but this afternoon will be windy. Temperature at 2000 m: 0 degrees. Moderate to brisk NW wind, stronger in the afternoon.

Starting at midnight, snowfall from the north. In Rätikon and Silvretta by tomorrow morning, max. 5 cm is expected, elsewhere 10 cm. Together with stormy NW winds, danger levels will rise.