Goldberg Group Central

Glide-snow avalanches still possble

Glide-snow avalanches still possble

Avalanche danger is MODERATE, mostly from glide-snow avalanches which can release at any time, medium in high zones which have not yet discharged, or larger, and can plummet down to slopes which are bare of snow. Most dangerous are NW/N/E facing starting zones. High altitude drifts mostly dangerous for forcing a fall.

The snowpack is 0-degree isotherm up to summit levels and thoroughly wet down to the ground. On sunny slopes the ground is bare up to intermediate altitudes, the reserves of cold are used up except for shady slopes above 2600 m. The fresh snow is bonding well. Stormy W/NW winds are generating small drifts. Reinforced gliding of the entire snowpack is being observed on smooth slopes.

Rainfall/snowfall will be frequent at night, also hefty thunderstorms, the snowfall level dropping from 2300 to 1400 m, NW winds reaching 50 km/hr. At high altitudes 5-15 cm of fresh snow anticipated. On Tuesday, clouds and some snowfall, brighter and drier in afternoon. Snowfall level at 1000-1400. At 2000 m: -4 degrees; at 3000 m: -10 degrees. The NW winds will reach 90 km/hr in exposed terrain 70 km/hr.

Further snowfall on Wednesday will intensify the snowdrift problem. A weak layer could form at the transition from fresh to old snow (cold-on-warm). The gliding snow problem persists.