Lechquellen Mountains

Increasing danger of wet-snow avalanches as day unfolds

Increasing danger of wet-snow avalanches as day unfolds

As a result of little fresh snowfall and wind, small snowdrift accumulations were generated locally at high altitudes. During the daytime hours, wet-snow avalanche danger will increase somewhat. Winter sports enthusiasts can trigger isolated wet-snow slab avalanches in very steep terrain, the danger spots are impossible to recognize.Due to daytime warming and solar radiation, danger of wet-snow avalanches increasees during daytime hours. Wet slab avalanches can in isolated cases be triggered by persons. Also some naturally triggered wet-snow avalanches can fracture and, in isolated cases, grow to large size. Whumpf noises and glide cracks in the old snow are indicators of danger. Backcountry tours and ascents to refuges should be launched early in the day and brought early to a close. Glide-snow avalanches can trigger in steep snowy terrain which has not yet discharged over smooth underground in all aspects.

In evening hours, outgoing radiation will be limited but become better during nocturnal house. Due to mild temperatures, the snowpack continues to become thoroughly wet. The snowpack is thoroughly wet, on north-facing slopes it is thoroughly wet below 2500m, in other aspects below 2800m. Lower altitudes are bare of snow. Sunny slopes are becoming bare of snow up to high altitudes. On shady high-altitude steep slopes there are unfavorable intermediate layers in the uppermost layer of the snowpack which in places can be triggered. A thick mid-level section of compact layers blankets a fundament of buried hoar and faceted crystals.

Still unstable conditions, residual clouds will occasionally make room for sunshine, but convective cloud build-up will generate a few minor showers. Snowfall level: around 1600m. Temperature at 2000m: 0 degrees; at 3000m: -7 degrees. Brisk westerly-to-northwesterly winds at high altitudes.

Over the next few days, conditions will improve due to good nighttime outgoing longwave radiation beneath clear skies. During daytime hours, danger of wet-snow avalanches will increase.