Fischbach Alps East, Wechsel

Mild westerly weather will diminish snowpack firmness, increasing wet loose-snow avalanches possible (small-to-medium)

Mild westerly weather will diminish snowpack firmness, increasing wet loose-snow avalanches possible (small-to-medium)

Above 1900 m avalanche danger is moderate, due to snowdrifts. Danger zones esp. on NE/S facing slopes, esp. behind protruberances and at entries into gullies and bowls where snowdrift accumulations can trigger slab avalanches even by minimum additional loading (1 person). Mild temperatures and temporary rain impact will diminish snowpack firmness. Likelihood of wet-snow/glide-snow avalanches will increase. Danger zones esp. on steep grassy slopes at high altitudes and steep hillsides.

On Monday some snow fell at high altitudes. The stormy westerly winds generated isolated snowdrift patches, bonding poorly with the melt-freeze encrusted snowpack surface. Due to mild temperatures, the snow is becoming soft, wet at lower altitudes.

A powerful westerly air current will traverse the Eastern Alps in an Atlantic front, bringing relatively mild air masses our way. On the northern flank of the Alps, pleasant conditions on Tuesday morning, apart from strong westerly winds. Summits oftern in fog. At midday, high altitudes clouds will bring in a warm front, rainfall will begin in the afternoon (snowfall initially only over 2000 m). On the southern flank of the Alps the moist ground-level layer will persist; fog will disperse only in the afternoon. High clouds will dominate, but it will remain dry. At 2000 m: +1 degree; at 1500 m: +3 degrees. On Wednesday, gray skies will bring precipitation to the entire Alps with a cold front, but only minor amounts. Snowfall level will descend down to low lying areas during the course of the morning.

Ongoing loss of snowpack firmness due to further rainfall. Thus, main danger: loose-snow and wet-snow avalanches.