Lechquellen Mountains

Critical avalanche situation widespread in backcountry

Critical avalanche situation widespread in backcountry

Above 2000m, high avalanche danger prevails. Trigger-sensitive fresh snow and fresh drifts are prone to triggering. Avalanche are likely to be triggered by even one single winter sports enthusiast. If they fracture down to deeper layers of the snowpack they can grow to large size. Frequency and spread of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude and through the course of the day. Older danger zones have been blanketed by fresh snow, making them difficult to recognize. Older danger zones have now been blanketed by fresh snow and are difficult to recognize. Whumpf noises and glide cracks when you tread upon the snowpack are signals of danger. In addition, increaingly frequent naturally triggered avalanches are anticipated. At low altitudes on steep grass-covered slopes, small to medium glide-snow avalanches are possible.

By Tuesday afternoon, an additional 30-50cm of fresh snow is forecast, accompanied by brisk to strong N/NW winds and transporting the fresh fallen snow. Fresh snow and drifts are not well bonded with the old snowpack, making them prone to triggering. In the uppermost part are weak layers (covered graupel inside the latest snowdrifts and at the bordering layer to the old snow). At high altitudes on shady slopes, weak layers are evident widespread in the old snowpack, down to which avalanches could fracture.

Nocturnal skies will remain gray, with light to moderate snowfall, stronger in the mountains. On Tuesday, moderate snowfall to start with, in the afternoon tapering off to light snow showers. It will remain windy and cloudy. At 2000m: -9 degrees. Brisk northerly winds, then shifting to N/NE and intensifying.

As snowfall tapers off and weather conditions quiet down, avalanche danger levels will decrease. But fresh snow and drifts remain prone to triggering.