Fischbach Alps East, Wechsel

Fresh drifts being generated at high altitudes

Fresh drifts being generated at high altitudes

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate. Due to cold northerly winds, danger zones are increasing, generating fresh snowdrift accumulations on east and south-facing slopes. Danger zones occur in ridgeline terrain and behind discontinuities, in gullies and bowls. A slab can trigger from 1 person, usually size 2 releases unfold. In high-altitude zones which have not yet discharged, isolated glide-snow avalanches are still possible. Open glide cracks are indicators of potential danger, avoid them.

At the start of this period of precipitation the snow fell with little wind. On Sunday the fresh snow and drifts will blanket the soft fresh snow which fell on Saturday, bonding with the cold powder is poor and thus, prone to triggering. The old snowpack is compact and without marked weak layers, topped by a thick crust which is capable of bearing loads (unpleasant for skiers: riddled with water seepage channels). On smooth ground the snowpack continues to crack and glide downhill.

On Sunday, arctic cold air masses will arrive from the north. The peaks will be mostly in fog and cloud, light-to-moderate snowfall is expected. All in all, 5-15 cm of cold fresh snow and drifts are anticipated, plus brisk cold northerly winds which in the afternoon will become stormy, esp. near the eastern rim ranges. At 2000 m: in the Northern Alps -8 degrees; on the southern flank of the Alps -3 degrees. Temperatures will fall further.

Also on Monday, heavy clouds will move through, but it will remain mostly free of precipitation (a bit of exceptional snowfall is possible in the northern barrier cloud regions). Avalanche danger is not expected to change significantly.