Goldberg Group Central

Foehn-induced snowdrift accumulations easily triggered

Directly on the Main Alpine Ridge, the mountains could be shrouded in fog from the south, elsewhere visibility is mostly good with intermittent sunshine. The southerly foehn wind will be brisk to strong, reaching windspeeds of 80 km/hr in the typical foehn lanes. At 2000m: -2 to +4 degrees; at 3000m: -6 degrees.

On Thursday night a cold front will bring strong-velocity W/NW winds and some snowfall. Fresh, shallow snowdrift accumulations can be freshly formed.

Foehn-induced snowdrift accumulations easily triggered

Avalanche danger levels above the timberline are CONSIDERABLE, below that altitude danger is LOW. The freshly generated snowdrift accumulations can trigger a small-to-medium slab avalanche even by minimum additional loading. Most of the danger zones (both near to and distant from ridgelines, and behind protruberances in the landscape) occur on north and east facing slopes and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Most critical are transitions from shallow to deeper snow. In isolated cases, avalanches can fracture in the old snow and grow to larger size. Mostly small glide-snow avalanches and wet loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally, particularly at intermediate altitudes.

The snowpack is highly varied and still with too little snow for this juncture of the season. Crests and ridges are often windblown, gullies and bowls filled to the brim with snow. Weak layers occur as faceted crystals atop crusts and near-surface (beneath fresh snow and drifts) as well is inside the old snow.