Avalanche forecast

Mostly favourable situation. Caution: on very steep shady slopes, and isolated glide-snow avalanches

Mostly favourable situation. Caution: on very steep shady slopes, and isolated glide-snow avalanches

Favourable conditions prevail by and large. On high-altitude steep and shady slopes, weak layers at ground level can still be triggered in some places. Small-to-medium sized slab avalanches can be triggered especially by large additional loading in transitions from shallow to deep snow, e.g. at entries into gullies and bowls. In ridgeline terrain small fresh snowdrift accumulations require caution due to intensifying westerly wind. In areas with âlowâ danger there are isolated danger zones for dry-snow avalanches on extremely steep shady slopes. The peril of being swept along and forced to fall require attentiveness. Particularly in regions where snowfall has been heaviest, isolated small-to-medium sized glide snow avalanches are possible on steep grassy slopes and hillsides which have not yet discharged. Cracks in the snowpack are red flags.

he snowpack on most steep slopes is well consolidated and stable, but on high-altitude very steep slopes there are frequently covered weak layers of faceted crystals which are triggerable. On north-facing slopes and zones where the solar radiation is flat, the uppermost layers are generally still loose and powdery, cold-induced. There is often surface hoar or a thin melt-freeze crust. At low and intermediate altitudes the snowpack is moist, which furthers the gliding movements of the snowpack. Small freshly generated (and sometimes older) snowdrifts in ridgeline terrain become more prone to triggering with ascending altitude.

Westerly winds are intensifying, bringing in heavy clouds above the summit and creating flat light. Towards evening, cloud cover will move in from the north (except in southern regions) bringing light precipitation. The zero-degree level will lie at 2200 m. Temperature at 2000 m: +1 degree. Brisk to strong westerly winds.

Avalanche danger will not change significantly. In ridgeline terrain small snowdrift accumulations will be generated. Due to mild temperatures, increasingly frequent glide-snow avalanches are possible.