Verwall Mountains West

Increasing avalanche danger due to fresh snow and winds

Increasing avalanche danger due to fresh snow and winds

Additional trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations are forming due to strong-to-stormy W/SW winds. The accumulations can be easily triggered even by one sole skier. Danger zones occur also distant from ridgelines in wind-loaded steep terrain, in gullies and bowls, and behind protruberances in the landscape. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude. Glide-snow avalanches, mostly small, continue to be possible. Caution urged below glide cracks.

Through 10-20 cm of fresh snowfall plus strong-to-storm strength W/SW winds, further trigger sensitive snowdrift accumulations will be generated. Also older accumulations can be triggered. Inside the drifts themselves, they are often trigger-sensitive intermediate layers. As temperatures drop, the danger of wet-snow avalanches has decreased, but glide-snow avalanches continue to be possible.

Nocturnal snow showers will rapidly recede, intermittent sunshine is expected amidst variably cloudy skies. Snow showers could return, focal point in the Northern Alps. Extremely windy. At 2000m: -6 degrees. Strong to stormy W/SW winds at high altitudes.

Snowdrift accumulations which are prone to triggering are being ongoingly generated by fresh fallen snow and strong-to-storm strength winds, including heavy storm gusts from the west.