Bregenzerwald Mountains

Wet-snow, glide-snow avalanches

Wet-snow, glide-snow avalanches

Avalanche danger is low in the morning, rises during the daytime hours. In extremely steep terrain, isolated small avalanches are triggerable by winter sports enthusiasts. In the afternoon, main danger stems from wet snow. On very steep slopes, mostly small wet-snow avalanches can trigger naturally. On steep smooth slopes, in addition, small-to-medium glide snow avalanches are possible. Glide cracks are indicators of imminent danger.

The snowpack is thoroughly wet up well into intermediate altitude terrain, and wet down to the ground. Variably cloudy skies on Monday night will generated a melt-freeze crust, sometimes capable of bearing loads, which softens up during the daytime on Tuesday, making the snowpack lose its firmness, and wet-snow / glide-snow avalanches possible in steep terrain. At high altitudes, older snowdrift accumulations have soft layers embedded, which are unlikely to trigger. Below 1500m on shady slopes there is not much snow on the ground.

Nocturnal hours: in the early part of the night, widespread dense clouds from the west. In early morning these will disperse, temperatures will drop, but not significantly. Wednesday: high altitude clouds will reduce visibility and cause diffuse radiation, but conditions will remain generally pleasant in the mountains. At 2000 m: +6 degrees. Brisk to strong W/SW winds.

On Thursday, mild and windy, with high altitude clouds. Friday: a cold front is forecast. Until then, daytime rise in danger of wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches requires caution.