Lechquellen Mountains

Considerable avalanche danger at high altitudes

Considerable avalanche danger at high altitudes

A single winter sports enthusiast can trigger slab avalanches in the old snow. If they sweep away the entire snowpack they can grow to medium size. Danger zones are located expecially on steep shady slopes, but also in wind-loaded gullies and bowls in all aspects. Whumpf noises and fractures on the surface are alarm signals. Also remote triggerings continue to be possible. Activities in outlying terrain away from secured ski runs require experience in evaluating the terrain and assessment of avalanche dangers. In addition, as a result of foehn-wind impact, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations have been genearted particularly in ridgline and pass areas.

As a result of brisk to strong-velocity southerly winds, fresh snowdrifts have accumulated particularly in high-altitude ridgeline and pass areas. These were deposited on shady high altitude slopes top loosely-packed old snow and are prone to triggering. Bonding of the fresh snow and drifts from last week to the often faceted, expansively metamorphosed old snowpack surface and unfavorably structured layers inside the snowpack is only moderate-to-poor from place to place. Settling noises, fractures in the surface and avalanache releases continue to confirm the ongoing proneness to triggering of the snowpack.

Montag will bring sunny weather. Temperatures will drop slightly. In the Silvretta, some dense cloud cover in the morning hours, later the sun will prevail. The southerly wind will be feelable but will not disturb. Temperature at 2000m: dropping to +1 degree; at 3000m: -6 degrees. Moderate to brisk southerly winds at high altitudes.

Avalanche danger will recede only gradually. At high altitudes, weak layers inside the snowpack continue to be prone to triggering.