Weisseck, Muhr Valley

Top springtime conditions, daytime cycle below 2400 m

Top springtime conditions, daytime cycle below 2400 m

Avalanche danger in the morning is LOW at all altitudes, then increases due to loss of snowpack firmness below 2400 m in extended south-facing slopes to MODERATE. On sun-drenched steep slopes (SE/S/SW) starting at midday, naturally triggered or skier-triggered small-to-medium wet loose-snow avalanches are possible, mostly in extremely steep terrain. Isolated, seldom glide-snow avalanches (medium-to-large sized) in very steep grass-covered terrain are possible at any time of day or night, though the likelihood is greatest in afternoon and in evening. Heed glide cracks.

The snowpack is capable of bearing loads to start with. In some places hard as steel and icy. During the day the snow slowly softens up. On sunny slopes the uppermost 10 cm become soft, on west-facing and north-facing slopes the snow remain hard for longer. On the weekend an increase in glide-snow avalanche activity was observed in extremely steep terrain.

Cloudless skies, outstanding visibility on Monday. Air moisture extremely low, mostly 20%. Light winds, apart from local swooping winds. At 2000 m: rising from -4 to +1 degrees. On Tuesday, still cloudless skies, clear air, low moisture. Southerly winds rising, reaching 30-50 km/hr in exposed terrain. Temperatures unchanged.

On Tuesday, unchanged conditions. Top springtime conditions, only a minor glide-snow risk, and the dry air will transform the snow to firn rather late, where the sun doesn’t shine directly, and the snowpack will remain steel-hard. Starting on Wednesday, increasingly strong daytime cycle, with wet-snow problem in the afternoon.