Avalanche forecast

Caution: trigger-sensitive snowdrifts at high altitudes, wet-snow + glide-snow avalanches below 2200m

Caution: trigger-sensitive snowdrifts at high altitudes, wet-snow + glide-snow avalanches below 2200m

Fresh and older snowdrift accumulations of recent days are prone to triggering and can be triggered even by the weight of one single skier Danger zones lie especially above 2200m on steep shady slopes, in ridgeline areas, behind protruberances, in gullies and bowls. They are covered by fresh snow and difficult to recognize. Older weak layers in the old snow can easily trigger in places on W/N/E facing slopes, particularly in Rätikon, Silvretta and Verwall regions, especially above 2000 m in rarely-frequented terrain in transitions from shallow to deep snow, e.g. entries into gullies and bowls. Triggered avalanches can grow to dangerously large size. Backcountry skiing and freeriding tours demand defensive route selection. Due to fresh snow, small loose-snow avalanches are possible. On very steep sunny grass-covered slopes below 2000m, wet-snow avalanches and glide-snow slides are possible.

Yesterday 5-15 cm of fresh snow fell. Due to daytime warmth and nighttime longwave outgoing radiation, a thin melt-freeze crust not capable of bearing loads formed on south-facing slopes. The fresh snow in southern aspects lies deposited atop a melt-freeze crust whose bonding is often prone to trigger. On shady slopes there is still powder at high altitudes. Due to recent strong winds, easily triggered new snowdrifts have accumulated at high altitudes. Also cornices have been generated. At mid-level inside the snowpack are trigger-sensitive intermediate layers which can trigger in isolated cases, usually by large additional loading, on W/N/E facing slopes mostly between 1800 and 2600 m. Beneath 2400m the rainfall and warmth has made the snowpack thoroughly wet, it therebys forfeit firmness.

Gray skies, very windy in the mountains. Higher altitudes often veiled in cloud, reducing visibility. A few snow showers are possible. Milder, the snowfall level ascending from 900 to 1400 m. At 2000 m: -7 to -3 degrees. Strong westerly winds, reaching storm strength in gusts.

Due to strong winds and sometimes heavy snowfall, avalanche danger will increase at the beginning of the new week.