Bregenzerwald Mountains

Considerable avalanche danger above the timberline

Considerable avalanche danger above the timberline

Avalanches can be triggered by one single winter sports enthusiast. Danger zones occur on steep slopes in all aspects, behind drops in the landscape and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Frequency and spread of avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude. Whumpf noises and fractures which appear when treading upon the snowpack are alarm signals. Activities in outlying terrain demand cautious assessment of the terrain and careful evaluation of the dangers. The inexperienced should not leave secured ski runs. Rain impact is leading to a softening of the snowpack at low and intermediate altitudes; this can lead to naturally triggered, small-to-medium sized avalanches. Zones with glide cracks should be avoided.

By Saturday evening, an additional 10-20cm of fresh snow is anticipated. The amounts of fresh fallen snow are continually being transported in varying directions, new snowdrift accumulations generated, but they are difficult to recognize since constantly getting blanketed with fresh snowfall. Fresh snow and drifts have settled slightly, but bonding to the unfavorable snowpack is usually weak.

A warm front is expected to bring poor visibility and moderate-to-heavy precipitation. Snowfall level will ascend to nearly 1500m. Temperature at 2000m: rising from -5 to -2 degrees; at 3000m: -11 degrees. Strong to storm-strength northwesterly winds at high altitudes.

Particularly at low and intermediate altitudes, increasingly frequent wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches can be expected.