Rätikon West

Attention winter sports enthusiasts: critical conditions widespread at high altitudes

Attention winter sports enthusiasts: critical conditions widespread at high altitudes

Main problem: fresh snow and freshly generated snowdrifts. Slab avalanches can be triggered even by minimum additional loading, e.g. one single winter sports enthusiasat. Avalanche prone locations occur in steep terrain in all aspects, also distant from ridgelines and particularly behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain, in gullies and bowls. Size and spread of the danger zones increase with ascending altitude. Whumpf noises and glide cracks in the snowpack surface are signals of danger. Also remote triggerings and naturally triggered avalanches are possible. Activities in backcountry away from secured ski runs demand a high degree of restraint. The inexperienced should not leave the secured ski areas. In addition, on steep, seldom-tracked shady slopes at high altitudes there are weak layers deeply embedded in the snowpack which can be triggered by large additional loading. If avalanches fracture down to these layers they can grow to large size. Furthermore, medium-sized loose-snow avalanches are possible in steep rocky terrain, especially in the case of solar radiation.

The latest batch of fresh snow was able to settle and consolidate at low altitudes. It often blankets trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations. Bonding of fresh snow and drifts to the old snowpack and with itself is often poor. At high altitudes especially on steep shady slopes there are still older unfavourable layers in the snowpack. These places are not visible to the naked eye.Small to medium naturally triggered releases and danger signals confirm how prone to triggering the snowpack is.

Nocturnal hours: final snow showers will come to an end, most of the night will be dry. Sunday: thoroughly sunny. Starting at midday, clouds will move in from the northwest, visibility deteriorate, it will become cold and windy. At 2000 m: -7 degrees. Brisk to strong northerly winds.

Sunday will begin with sunshine, in the afternoon clouds will move in, precipitation in the evening. The snowpack will remain prone to triggering, avalanche danger levels will recede.