Rätikon West

Considerable avalanche danger at higher altitudes

Considerable avalanche danger at higher altitudes

One single winter sports enthusiast can trigger slab avalanches. If they sweep away the entire snowpack they can grow to medium size. Danger zones are located especially on steep shady slopes, but also in wind-loaded gullies and bowls in all aspects. Whumpf noises and fractures on the snowpack surface are alarm signals. Activities in backcountry away from secured ski runs require experience in evaluating the terrain and assessing avalanche dangers. In addition, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations require caution particularly in ridgeline and pass areas.

The old snowpack is overall unfavorably structured. Intermediate layers inside the snow cover are still only moderate-to-weakly bonded to each other in many places. In addition, older snowdrift accumulations are still often prone to triggering on shady high-altitude slopes.

It is expected to remain dry, predominantly sunny, with only light winds. Temperature at 2000m: dropping slightly from 0 to -2 degrees; at 3000m: -7 degrees. Light, variable winds at high altitudes.

Avalanche danger will recede only gradually. At high altitudes, weak layers continue to be prone to triggering.