Weisseck, Muhr Valley

Freshly generated snowdrift masses are the main danger

Freshly generated snowdrift masses are the main danger

Stong southerly winds have transported the loose old snow and fresh snow over the last few days, depositing it behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain, in gullies and bowls. The small, mostly hardened snowdrift masses are still prone to triggering, particularly on shady slopes above about 2400 m. They can be triggered as an avalanche even by one single winter sports enthusiast. In the danger zones, both magnitude and trigger-sensitivity of the drifts increase with ascending altitude. Avalanche are generally small, but in isolated cases can grow to medium size. Caution: Danger zones in steep terrain lurk particularly wherever skiing is possible without meeting up with rocks, that is particularly in wind-loaded terrain. Some fresh fallen snow will blanket the danger zones in some places over the course of the day. Poor visibility makes recognizing the danger spots more difficult. Below 2500 m there is minor danger of glide-snow avalanches, particularly on steep, smooth, grass-covered slopes.

Especially on shady wind-protected slopes at high altitudes, fresh snowdrifts were deposited atop a weak snowpack over the weekend. The wind-transported snow now blankets a soft layer of mostly faceted crystals which can serve as a weak layer. An unfavourable sequence of faceted-crystal layers and melt-freeze crusts at the base of the snowpack is evident particularly on west-facing, north-facing and east-facing slopes above 2500 m In general, there is still not much snow for winter sports in outlying terrain. Above 2000 m the overall snow depth lies between 30 and 60 cm. The snow is distributed in extremely irregular manner: wind-exposed terrain is bare, gullies and bowls are filled to the brim.

Monday: On Monday, visibility in the mountains will be limited right from early morning, a few snowflakes can also be expected. During the afternoon snowfall will set in from the southwest, the snowfall level will descend to below 1000 m by evening. By Monday night when the precipitation will terminate, 5 to 10 cm of fresh snow is anticipated over widespread areas, about 15 cm on the Main Alpine Ridge. Southerly winds on Monday will intially be brisk, then slacken off in the morning hours. At 2000 m, -2 to 0 degrees; at 3000 m: -7 degrees. Tuesday: In the morning, sunny weather will rapidly prevail. Visibility will be very good. During the afternoon, heavy cloud will move in from the northwest, visibility will deteriorate. At 2000 m, -5 to -3 degrees; at 3000 m: -9 degrees.

The snowdrift masses from the weekend will bond with the layers atop them, avalanche danger will decrease.