Bregenzerwald Mountains

Freshly generated snowdrifts at high altitudes. Due to rainfall below 2000 m and daytime warming, loss of snowpack firmness.

Freshly generated snowdrifts at high altitudes. Due to rainfall below 2000 m and daytime warming, loss of snowpack firmness.

Due to fresh fallen snow and winds, snowdrift accumulations are being generated which are often prone to triggering. Danger zones increase with ascending altitude, esp. in steep shady terrain and wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Furthermore, avalanches can in some places be triggered by near-surface layers. Frequency and size of danger zones increase with ascending altitude. Naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches can be expected. Caution urged on slopes with glide-cracks.

In the northern regions there has been 10-20 cm of fresh snow, elsewhere less. It was often deposited atop a melt-freeze encrusted surface, on north-facing slopes at high altitudes atop a loose old snowpack surface. Amid mostly moderate winds (stronger in foehn-impacted zones) fresh, trigger-sensitive snowdrifts have accumulated. With rising temperatures and foehn southerly winds, the zero-degree level will ris on Friday to about 2500 m. On high altitude shady slopes, near-surface laysers are still prone to triggering. At intermediate altitudes the snowpack is thoroughly wet. Below 1400 m there is hardly any snow on the ground.

Nocturnal hours: rain till after midnight, snowfall level at 2000 m, tapering off in early morning. Friday: isolated snow showers in early morning, cloudy later on, diffuse light conditions. In the afternoon, more sunshine, light convective cloud build-up, isolated showers are possible. At 2000 m: -3 to +3 degrees. Moderate southerly winds.

On Saturday, dry and higher temperatures at all altitudes. Not much wind. Danger of dry-snow avalanches will recede. Daytime rise in temperatures will make wet-snow avalanche danger palpable.