Pre Alps

Pay close heed to small snowdrifts at high altitudes and wet avalanches due to rain

Pay close heed to small snowdrifts at high altitudes and wet avalanches due to rain

Fresh snowdrifts are trigger-prone at high altitudes and are easily triggered. Size and frequency of danger zones increase with ascending altitude. Danger zones occur in steep ridgeline terrain, behind discontinuities and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Small-to-medium sized avalanches can be triggered by one person. Backcountry sports require much experience in assessing avalanche dangers on-site and prudent route selection; mind the risks of falling. Small loose-snow avalanches are possible in steep rocky terrain due to solar radiation. Despite lower temperatures, glide-snow avalanches are still a threat on steep grass-covered and rocky slopes in all aspects, avoid zones below glide cracks.

Strong to storm-strength winds are transporting the loose fresh snow and generating fresh snowdrift accumulations, deposited esp. on shady slopes atop soft, expansively metamorphosed (faceted) old snowpack layers or atop a melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack surface, bonding is inadequate. The old snowpack is mostly well consolidated and stable. Up to intermediate altitudes there is little snow on the ground. Due to rain impacct it is being weakened. The warm ground and wet lower layers are reinforcing the gliding movement of the entire snowpack.

Nocturnal hours: Light rainfall is expected. Wednesday daytime: Heavily overcast skies with some extended sun windows in the Central Alps. In afternoon, cloud cover will move in, light precipitation will set in above 1800 m. At 2000 m: +3 degrees. Strong to stormy W/NW winds with gale-strength gusts.

Fresh snow expected on Thursday. Thus, avalanche danger levels can increase.