Avalanche forecast

Fresh drifts at high altitude. Wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches at intermediate altitude due to warm and rainfall.

Fresh drifts at high altitude. Wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches at intermediate altitude due to warm and rainfall.

The freshly generated snowdrift accumulations above 1800 m are prone to triggering and can be released even by minimum loading and grow to medium size. Spread and frequency of danger zones increase with ascending altitude. Due to new snow and winds, they continue to spread and deepen. Particularly in regions where snowfall has been heaviest, small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches are possible on steep grass-covered slopes and hillsides which have not yet discharged. Cracks in the snowpack are danger signals. With rising temperatures and further rain influence, this danger of wet-snow avalanches will increase during the day.

Yesterday foehn wind was blowing in exposed terrain at moderate to strong velocity as of midday, in gusts reaching strong to very strong velocity and thus transporting the loose snow. During the night there was 5-10 cm of new snow registered (snowfall level 1200-1500m). During the day an additional 15-20 cm will be added to it above 1700 m. This will be transported by strong-to-stormy westerly winds. The new snow and snowdrifts sill be deposited on top of wind crusts or melt-freeze crusts, sometimes at high altitudes atop still loose, powdery snow or layers which are blanketed with surface hoar and thus, prone to triggering. At intermediate altitudes and on south-facing slopes, bonding to the old snowpack is better. Furthermore, on high-altitude very steep shady slopes there are weak layers at mid-level in the snowpack in some places which are prone to triggering, as are some older snowdrift accumulations. At low and intermediate altitudes the snowpack has been weakened by mild temperatures and minor rain impact. Last night a breakable melt-freeze crust formed which will soften during the day.

The mountains will soon be covered in clouds from the west, visibility will deteriorate, accompanied by a few windows of sunshine. Light rainfall will come in repeated bouts during the day, above 1700 m as snowfall. Very windy in ridgeline zones. Temperature at 2000 m: -3 to +1 degree. Strong to stormy westerly winds.

Between Wednesday and Thursday, lots of rainfall extending up to high altitudes is expected. Winds will be blowing at strong-to-storm strength from W/NW directions, transporting the new snow at high altitude. Danger of wet-snow and dry-snow avalanches could increase strikingly.