Lechquellen Mountains

Generally favorable conditions. Caution urged on steep shady slopes.

Generally favorable conditions. Caution urged on steep shady slopes.

Isolated avalanches can still be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts, particularly in little-skied backcountry terrain where the surface is not capable of bearing loads. Danger zones occur especially in spots where the snow is relatively shallow, and in transitions from shallow to deep snow. Avalanches can trigger down to deeper layers inside the snowpack and grow to large size. A cautious route selection and maintaining safety distances between tourers on ascents and descents are recommended. On hard-frozen steep slopes, the danger of sliding and falling require special caution. During the course of the day, likelihood of naturally triggered small wet-snow avalanches triggering increases somewhat on sunny, steep slopes.

Clouds moving in will hamper the nocturnal longwave outgoing radiation only slightly. Generally there is a melt-freeze crust capable of bearing loads, which softens up during the daytime hours. On north-facing slopes, a rain crust extends regionally up to 2300-2500m. The mid part of the snowpack consists of well consolidated layers which on higher altitude shady slopes are blanketed over by large-sized cup-shaped snow crystals.

Far above summit level, clouds will move in, hampering sunshine measurably, although visibility will remain good. Temperature at 2000m: -2 to +3 degrees; at 3000m: -4 degrees. Light-to-moderate southerly winds at high altitudes, brisker on the foehn-exposed mountains.

No significant change is anticipated. The persistent weak layer problem on shady high-altitude slopes will persist. Frequency of danger zones is gradually receding.