Fischbach Alps East, Wechsel

UPDATE: CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger above the timberline. Trigger-sensitive weak layers in the drifts.

UPDATE: CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger above the timberline. Trigger-sensitive weak layers in the drifts.

Above the treeline, avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE, below that altitude danger is MODERATE. Strong-to-stormy NW winds combined with snowfall are generating fresh snowdrift accumulations in gullies and bowls in all aspects near to and distant from ridgelines, also in sparsely wooded zones. Small-to-medium sized slab avalanches can be triggered even by one person. Weak layers are prone to triggering, can be released even by one person and grow to large size. Poor visibility makes assessment of dangers on-site very difficult. In addition, small naturally triggered slab and loose-snow avalanches are possible in steep rough or rocky terrain at high altitude.

On Wednesday there was hardly any snowfall, at low altitudes the snowpack has been moistened by rain. On Wednesday night snowfall will set in. By Thursday evening, 20-30 cm is expected. The fresh snow will be intensively transported by stormy NW winds, deposited in all aspects as loose new snow atop the bonded snowdrift accumulations. Weak layers inside the fresh snow and drifts are easily triggered. Deeper down inside the snowpack are layers of faceted crystals bordering on melt-freeze crusts which weaken the entire snowpack. This can be trigger in a few spots, generally by large additional loading.

A strong NW air current is bringing stormy winds and some snowfall. Snowfall will start on Thursday morning, persist until evening and be heavy in the afternoon (snowfall level 800-1000 m, rainfall lower down). Up to 20 cm of fresh snow is possible, amid strong NW winds. At 2000 m: -6 degrees; the zero-degree level lies at 1200 m. The snowfall will persist until Friday morning, then ease. The snowfall level will ascend to nearly 1000-1200 m during the day. Strong NW winds will continue to blow. At 2000 m: -4 degrees, the zero-degree level will ascend to 1500 m during the course of the day.

Slightly rising temperatures increase the chances of naturally triggered avalanches, the danger level will increase.