Bregenzerwald Mountains

Danger of slab avalanches at high altitudes, wet loose-snow avalanches at lower avalanches

Danger of slab avalanches at high altitudes, wet loose-snow avalanches at lower avalanches

Avalanches can be triggered by one single winter sports enthusiast. Danger zones occur on steep slopes in all aspects, behind drops in the landscape and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Frequency and spread of avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude. Whumpf noises and fractures which appear when treading upon the snowpack are alarm signals. Activities in outlying terrain demand cautious assessment of the terrain and careful evaluation of the dangers. The inexperienced should not leave secured ski runs. Rain impact is leading to a softening of the snowpack at low and intermediate altitudes; this can lead to naturally triggered, small-to-medium sized avalanches. Zones with glide cracks should under all circumstances be avoided.

Less than 10cm of fresh snow is anticipated, accompaned by strong-velocity winds. The large amounts of fresh snow from the last few days have been repeatedly transported in varying directions, generating far-reaching snowdrift accumulations. These are often blanketed over and difficult to recognize. Bonding to the generally weak snowpack is weak. Several large and very large sized avalanche releases due to artificial triggerings, remote triggerings and provoked by winter sports enthusiasts confirm just how trigger-sensitive the snowpack is. At low and intermediate altitudes the snowpack is softening due to rainfall.

On Monday, gray and foggy skies, only brief bright intervals. Light intermittent snowfall, snowfall level at about 1600m. Temperature at 2000m: rising from -1 degree, at 3000m at -6 degrees. Strong to storm-strength northwesterly winds at high altitudes.

The situation for winter sports enthusiasts persists.