Lechquellen Mountains

Main danger: fresh snowdrift accumulations and weak layers in the old snow

Main danger: fresh snowdrift accumulations and weak layers in the old snow

Fresh snow and snowdrifts are prone to triggering particularly in ridgeline zones, wind-loaded gullies ad bowls and behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain. They tend to increase with ascending altitude. Small to medium slab avalanches can be triggered by one sole winter sports anthusiast. If they fracture to deeper layers they can grow to large size. Also, above 2400 m on steep shady slopes there are unfavourable layers in the old snowpack. In very steep terrain and heavily wind-loaded zones, small slab avalanches and increasingly frequent slides can trigger naturally.

The latest batch of fresh fallen snow (10 cm) will be (and was) transported far-reachingly at high altitudes. Fresh snow and drifts are prone to triggering. They lie deposited atop loose and soft layers or melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack surfaces. Bonding deteriorates with ascending altitude. At high altitudes on shady slopes in particular, there are still weak layers evident deeply embedded inside the snowpack fundament. These danger zones are not visible to the naked eye.

Nocturnal hours: initially gray skies, light to moderate precipitation (snowfall above 1000 m). In the latter part of the night, precipitation will ease, skies will clear. Brisk westerly winds will be blowing. Thursday: dry weather, adequate visibility. Only around midday is a bit of snowfall possible. Still quite windy. At 2000 m: -5 to -2 degrees. Strong to stormy westerly winds.

As a result of strong-to-stormy westerly winds, cloud cover will dominate. Rainfall/snowfall will focus on the northern mountain regions. Strong winds will persist. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.