Osterhorn Group,Gamsfeld Group

Increasingly tense avalanche situation as day unfolds. High self-restraint imperative.

Increasingly tense avalanche situation as day unfolds. High self-restraint imperative.

Avalanche danger is considerable. Due to storm winds and large amounts of fresh snow, many avalanches can trigger naturally, possibly reaching medium size. Danger zones in all aspects in wind-protected terrain, increase with ascending altitude. Medium-sized glide-snow avalanches can release naturally up to summit levels at any time of day, on steep smooth slopes (grass, rocks) in all aspects. Furthermore, due to rain impact wet loose-snow avalanches are possible in extremely steep terrain, mostly small sized.

The massive amounts of transported fresh snow was deposited at high altitudes on shady slopes atop a loose snowpack surface. Even where the surface was encrusted, the crust formed a faceted weak layer in some places. In addition, weak near-surface layers are forming inside the masses of fresh fallen snow. At intermediate to low altitudes, rain and snow are increasing the weight load on the snowpack. The entire snow cover can glide downhill over smooth ground. Due to rain impact, the snowpack is forfeiting its firmness at low altitudes.

Cloud cover is heavy, heavy snowfall will be persistent. At high altitudes, up to 50 cm of fresh snow is anticipated. The snowfall level lies at 1000 m, will ascend during the day from the west. Visibility is severely reduced due to low lying clouds, intensive snowfall and drifting snow masses. Winds are westerly, blowing at storm strength, gusts at high altitudes reaching more than 120 km/hr. Huge snowdrifts are the result. At 2000 m: -6 degrees.

Persistent storm winds and some fresh snow: the avalanche situation will remain tense.