Avalanche forecast

New snow and fresh snowdrifts: prone to triggering. Still isolated glide-snow avalanches at low altitudes.

New snow and fresh snowdrifts: prone to triggering. Still isolated glide-snow avalanches at low altitudes.

Fresh snow and drifts are the main problem. Avalanche prone loations are found especially in steep ridgeline terrain, freshly wind-loaded gullies and bowls. They will increase in spread and frequency during the course of the day as snowfall continues. Small-to-medium slab avalanches can be triggered even by one single winter sports enthusiast. Activities in backcountry demand experience in assessing the terrain and dangers on-site. At intermediate altitudes on smooth grassy slopes and forest clearances which have not yet discharged, glide-snow avalanches are possible at any time of day or night. All areas below glide cracks should be avoided. In isolated cases avalanches can grow to medium size.

By early morning today there was 10-15 cm of fresh snow widespread, in some regions as much as 20 cm, which was intermittently transported by winds. New snow and snowdrift accumulations often were deposited atop a melt-freeze crust or a snowpack surface iced over by rain and wind. Bonding is frequently moderate-to-poor. At intermediate altitudes the snowpack is thoroughly wet down to the ground. At low altitudes and on sunny slopes the warm ground was thoroughly blanketed in snow.

Intermittently heavy snowfall amid poor visibility widespread. A striking drop in temperatures at all altitudes: at 2000 m from -5 to -11 degrees. Initially strong to stormy westerly winds, shifting to N/NW and slackening off to moderate this afternoon.

On Wednesday night and during the day on Thursday, repeated bouts of light snowfall. Due to fresh snow and wind, avalanche danger will increase somewhat.