Bregenzerwald Mountains

Fresh snow and snowdrifts prone to triggering at high altitudes

Fresh snow and snowdrifts prone to triggering at high altitudes

Fresh snowdrift accumulations at high altitudes can trigger small-to-medium sized slab avalanches by large additional loading. Danger zones occur esp. in steep ridgeline terrain in NW/N/SE aspects and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. In zones where there is rain impact, slides and small wet avalanches can be expected in all aspects. On steep smooth grassy slopes, small glide-snow avalanches are possible.

The fresh snow which has fallen since Monday lies atop a moist, compact and settled old snowpack surface at high altitudes. Intermittent strong westerly winds transported the snow, generated new snowdrifts. Fresh and older drifts are increasingly prone to triggering with ascending altitude. Due to rain, mild temperatures and reduced nocturnal outgoing radiation, the snowpack has been weakened at intermediate altitudes. At low altitudes there is only little snow on the ground.

Nocturnal hours: heavily overcast skies with snow showers down to low lying areas. In the mountains 10-20 cm of fresh snow is anticipated. Wednesday: variable conditions, clouds and fogbanks will disperse, some sunshine is likely. At 2000 m: -10 to -8 degrees. Moderate NW winds.

Thursday will be pleasant in spite of widespread cloudbanks, and milder. Danger of dry-snow avalanches will gradually diminish. Danger of wet-snow avalanches could increase again.