Rätikon West

Caution: freshly generated snowdrift accumulations

Caution: freshly generated snowdrift accumulations

Fresh drifts require attentiveness in high-altitude ridgeline and pass areas, they can be released by one sole skier and are mostly small-sized. Frequency and size of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude. The snowdrifts can be triggered as a small slab avalanche. Apart from the danger of being buried in snow masses, the risks of being swept along and being forced to take a fall require adequate consideration. The danger of small, in isolated cases medium-sized glide-snow avalanches is still difficult to assess. Caution urged below glide cracks.

The below-average snowpack is well consolidated by and large. In high altitude pass and rigeline zones, small fresh, often trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations require attentiveness, esp. on steep shady slopes these drifts have been deposited. On sunny slopes the most recent snowfall is already moist and is forming a melt-freeze crust. During the daytime hours, this crust softens up again.

Nocturnal skies cloudless by and large. On Wednesday in the mountains, generally sunny, only a few high altitude clouds from the west in the afternoon, somewhat diffuse light conditions. At 2000m: -7 to 0 degrees. Mostly moderate, intially brisk NW/W winds at high altitude.

Avalanche danger levels will slowly recede.