Rieserferner Mountains

Weakly bonded old snow requires caution. As the day progresses, individual wet avalanches are possible.

Weakly bonded old snow requires caution. As the day progresses, individual wet avalanches are possible.

Weak layers deep in the old snowpack can still be released in isolated cases by individual winter sport participants. This applies in particular at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example, as well as in little used backcountry terrain. The avalanche prone locations are rare but are barely recognisable, even to the trained eye. They are to be found in particular on very steep shady slopes. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. As a consequence of warming during the day and the solar radiation, the likelihood of wet avalanches being released will increase gradually on very steep sunny slopes below approximately 2400 m. The avalanches are rather small. Meticulous route selection is appropriate.

Outgoing longwave radiation during the night was good. The old snowpack remains prone to triggering in some places, in particular on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2000 m. The snowpack will be subject to considerable local variations above the tree line. Sunshine and high temperatures will give rise as the day progresses to gradual softening of the snowpack, especially on steep sunny slopes.

Thursday: Weakly bonded old snow represents the main danger.