Bregenzerwald Mountains

Pay close heed to snowdrifts at high altitudes

Pay close heed to snowdrifts at high altitudes

Fresh drifts are still trigger-prone at high altitude and on steep shady slopes. A small-to-medium slab and in steep terrain also loose-snow avalanche can be triggered by 1 person. Such danger zones will increase with ascending altitude, can often be covered. Snowdrift masses in steep terrain should be avoided. In backcountry terrain, a cautious route selection is imperative. On very steep and rocky slopes, slides and loose-snow avalanches can be expected during the course of the day due to solar radiation. Glide-snow avalanches can trigger at any time of day or night and grow to medium size in zones where snowfall has been heavy. Caution below glide-cracks.

The often large snowdrift accumulations which have been generated ongoingly, deposited atop a soft suface, often atop surface hoar, esp. on shady slopes at high altitudes, are slowly stabilizing and bonding with the old snowpack. The old snowpack is highly irregular, with much wind impact. Hard surfaces alternate with fresh snowdrifts and fresh snowfall. Only on high-altitude wind-protected slopes are the near-surface layers still soft. The old snowpack is compact and stable, at low and intermediate altitudes wet down to the ground.

Nocturnal hours: Heavily overcast skies, light snowfall above 1200 m, small amounts only. The weather will turn dry by early morning. Tuesday daytime: Minor perturbances, heavy clouds soon gathering, frequent light snowfall, snowfall level dropping to 1000 m. At 2000 m: -4 degrees. Moderate to brisk westerly winds.

On Wednesday, improving weather conditions during the course of the day, sunshine will then prevail. Hardly any wind. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.