Lechquellen Mountains

Considerable avalanche danger at high altitudes

Considerable avalanche danger at high altitudes

One single person can trigger slab avalanches in the drifts and old snow. If the fracture sweeps away the entire snowpack, the release can grow to medium size. Danger zones occur especially on steep shady slopes and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls in all aspects. Frequency and extent of avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude. Also naturally triggered avalanches and remote triggerings are possible. Activities in backcountry demand defensive conduct. In zones with rain impact, increasingly frequent wet snowslides and avalanches will also be possible during the course of the day.

The fresh fallen snow from Saturday and Sunday has settled somewhat and consolidated slightly. The fresh snow and drifts since Thursday often lie deposited on top of a loosely-packed, faceted, expansively metamorphosed old snowpack surface or top surface hoar. Thus, bonding is poor. The old snowpack is unfavorably structured. In addition, layers inside the fresh fallen snow and fresh snowdrifts are prone to triggering.

A warm front will bring a marked rise in temperatures in the mountains. As the night draws to a close, cloud cover will dominate. In the morning hours, snowfall will set in. Snowfall level will ascend to 1500m by evening. Temperature at 2000m: -1 degree; at 3000m: -7 degrees. Moderate to brisk westerly winds at high altitudes.

Avalanche danger receding only slowly at high altitudes