Tennen Mountains, Gosaukamm

Snowdrift accumulations still prone to triggering but difficult to recognize

Snowdrift accumulations still prone to triggering but difficult to recognize

Avalanche danger is moderate. On extremely steep sunny slopes, naturally triggered (or person-triggered) avalanches of medium size are possible due to daytime warming and solar radiation. Avalanches can be triggered in the snowdrift accumulations in some places by minimum additional loading, esp. on steep shady slopes. Drifts are hard to recognize due to the fresh snow blanketing them, releases can grow to medium size. On extremely steep sunny slopes below 2000m, increasingly frequent wet loose-snow avalanches of medium size are possible due to daytime rising temperatures and solar radiation. Also medium-sized glide-snow avalanches are possible on very steep grass-covered slopes.

Due to daytime warming the snowpack is further settling, layers inside the snowpack are well consolidated. Above 2200m there are faceted crystals forming a weak layer in the lower part of the snowpack. Inside the old snowpack fundament on north-facing slopes above 2200m and on W/S/E-facing slopes above 2400m, there are faceted crystals. Below 2000m the old snow is sticky or moist, after nights of cloudy skies it softens quickly during the morning hours and forfeits its bonding. Over ground which previously was bare of snow the fresh fallen snow can glide away as a glide-snow avalanche.

After a night of overcast skies, lots of sunshine and good visibility on Thursday, the skies with very little cloud cover. A moderate to strong easterly winds will be blowing. At 2000m: -1 to +3 degrees; at 3000m: -4 to -2 degrees.

Wet-snow problem at high altitudes is dimishing