Rätikon West

Fresh snowdrifts: considerable danger at high altitudes

Fresh snowdrifts: considerable danger at high altitudes

Fresh drifts are trigger-prone at high altitude and on steep shady slopes. A small-to-medium slab and in steep terrain also loose-snow avalanche can be triggered by 1 person. Such danger zones increase with ascending altitude. In backcountry terrain, a cautious route selection is imperative. On very steep and rocky slopes, slides and loose-snow avalanches can be expected during the course of the day due to solar radiation. Glide-snow avalanches can trigger at any time of day or night and grow to larger size. Glide-snow avalanches can trigger at any time of day or night and grow to medium size in zones where snowfall has been heavy. Caution below glide-cracks.

25-30 cm of fresh snow has been registered at high altitudes, amid moderate winds, which generated fresh small snowdrift accumulations, bonding well with the old snowpack surface. Older drifts were blanketed. Reports confirm the trigger sensitivy of fresh snow and drifts, artificial triggerings with explosives have corroborated this. The old snowpack is compact and stable, at low and intermediate altitudes wet down to the ground.

Nocturnal hours: Dry, scattered clouds. Thursday daytime: Sunshine often hampered by clouds, but visibility generally adequate. Zero-degree level rising to 2700 m. At 2000 m: -3 to +5 degree. Light westerly winds.

On Friday, widespread cloudbanks, mild, hardly any wind. On Saturday, a cold front will bring some snowfall above 1700 m. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.