Allgäu Alps West

Increasing avalanche danger due to fresh snow and wind

Increasing avalanche danger due to fresh snow and wind

Avalanche danger above the treeline is considerable, below that altitude danger is low. Snowdrift accumulations above the treeline can be easily triggered even by one single winter sports enthusiast and grow to medium size. Slab avalanches can often fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack and grow to large size. Danger zones occur particularly behind protruberances in the landscape, in gullies and blows and on wind-loaded slopes. These have been covered by fresh snow in many places, making them difficult to recognize. Whumpf noises and glide-cracks when the snowpack is stepped on are signals of danger. At low and intermediate altitudes on steep grass-covered slopes, small glide-snow avalanches are possible.

By Sunday evening, 35-40 cm of fresh snowfall is anticipated. As a result of storm-strength W/NW winds it will be transported far-reachingly. The fresh snow and drifts lie deposited on shady slopes at high altitudes atop a weak old snowpack surface. Weak layers can be either inside the snowdrifts themselves or in the loose-snow on the surface at high altitudes on wind-protected slopes. In addition, graupel showers passed through repeatedly yesterday.

Unpleasant weather conditions in the mountains: fog, snowfall, strong-to-stormy winds. From the nocturnal hours, rainfall will arrive at altitudes of 1200-1700m before the temperatures drop markedly and the snowfall level descends to the valley floors. Temperature at 2000m: dropping from -1 to -8 degrees. Strong to storm-strength W/NW winds at high altitudes.

On Monday, up to 55cm of snowfall is anticipated in the barrier cloud regions of the Tannberg, Lechquellen, Arlberg, Verwall, Rätikon and Silvretta. As a result of storm-strength NW winds it will be transported far-reachingly. Avalanche danger levels will continue to increase on Monday and reach Danger Level 4 (high avalanche danger).