Avalanche forecast

Main danger: fresh high-altitude snowdrifts – Increasingly frequent daytime wet slides and avalanches

Main danger: fresh high-altitude snowdrifts – Increasingly frequent daytime wet slides and avalanches

Avalanche danger is mostly moderate. Fresh and older snowdrifts are prone to triggering with ascending altitude. Small-to-medium avalanches can be triggered by one single skier. Danger zones are found particularly in wind-loaded gullies, bowls, in ridge zones and on shady steep slopes. Size and frequency increase with ascending altitude. In high alpine regions the situation is somewhat more critical. Significant daytime warming and solar radiation will make small-to-meddium moist slides and wet-snow avalanches possible in steep rocky terrain. Small glide-snow avalanches continue to be possible on very steep grassy slopes. Caution urged below glide cracks.

At high altitude there was up to 10 cm of fresh snow registered. Winds slackened off measurably. Fresh snow and drifts from recent days were able to further settle and slightly consolidate. Bonding to the old snowpack is generally adequate, but deteriorates with ascending altitude and, in particular, on steep shady slopes. Small-to-medium slab avalanches can trigger there inside the layers of fresh snow and drifts or near the layers of Sahara dust. As temperatures dropped, the snowpack was able to consolidate and stabilize up to intermediate altitudes. It subsequently softens during the daytime due to solar radiation and warmer temperatures, thereby forfeiting its firmness.

High-altitude, somewhat dense cloud cover this morning, but predominantly sunny. Temperatures are expected to rise noticeably. At 2000 m: from -2 to +6 degrees. Light to moderate westerly winds at high altitude.

The coming days are expected to be sunny. Light conditions will intermittently deteriorate due to dust from the Sahara. It will be considerably milder. The danger of dry-snow avalanches will continue to recede. As a result of daytime warming and solar radiation, increasingly frequent wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches will be possible.