Goldberg Group Central

Daytime decreasing firmness with solar radiation

Daytime decreasing firmness with solar radiation

The avalanche risk is initially low below around 2400 m and increases to moderate in the morning. Spontaneous or artificially triggered wet loose snow avalanches are possible in a few places, in particular from very steep terrain below around 2800 m where there is still a lot of snow. In wet snow, avalanches can tear through to the ground, reach medium size and, if the terrain is unfavourable, advance into the green.

Above around 2400 m, there are still individual avalanche prone locations in the west, north and east aspects, as well as in the southern sector in the high Alps, where slab avalanches can be triggered in persistent weak layers. Take care at the steep transitions from little to lots of snow. The thin wind slab poses an increased risk of falling if triggered.

After a clear night, the melt-freeze crust is widespread. Depending on the exposure, it softens in the morning and then loses firmness. In shady high altitudes, the 5 to 15 cm of new fallen snow from the beginning of the week is well settled and often still soft. Adjacent to ridgelines in the high Alps, NW/N winds have pressed the snow or redeposited it as wind slab. The snowpack below consists of compact snow characterised by rain up to high altitudes. On shady slopes above around 2400 metres, there are still weak layers of angular forms and deep rime in the old snowpack close to the ground. Low altitudes and sunny slopes at medium altitudes are mostly snowed out.

After a clear night, it is very sunny on Friday, thin veil clouds far above summit level do not disturb. Visibility is very good. The wind from the west to north-west will blow high up in the Alps, reaching speeds of around 50 km/h. At 2000 m 2 to 7 degrees, at 3000 m -3 to 0 degrees.

No significant change on Saturday. Note the daytime changes in avalanche danger.