Goldberg Group Central

Rapid increase in likelihood of naturally triggered wet-snow/glide-snow avalanches already in early morning

Scattered thin cirrus clouds during the night, light to moderate winds. On Sunday, sunny and mild, cirrus clouds becoming somewhat heavier during the day, hampering the sunshine somewhat, visibility diffuse. At 2000 m: 10-14 degrees; at 3000 m: 4 degrees. The zero-degree level will be at 3600 m. The SW/NW winds will reach speeds of 40 km/hr.

Rapid increase in likelihood of naturally triggered wet-snow/glide-snow avalanches already in early morning

Avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE as of early morning, the main danger stems from loost-snow and glide-snow avalanches, which can often sweep along wet old snow and grow to medium size, esp. on very steep slopes and in rough and rocky terrain on S/E/W facing slopes up to high alpine regions and on north-facing slopes up to 2600 m. On steep wind-protected slopes in extended north-facing terrain, small-to-medium loose-snow avalanches are possible. The danger of glide-snow avalanches is again increasing. They are possible in all aspects and at any time of day or night. In high starting zones which have not yet discharged they can be medium-sized and plummet down to greenlands, esp. from starting zones where there is still sufficient snow on the ground on N/E facing slopes. Avoid zones below glide cracks. All backcountry activities should be terminated early in the day.

The snowpack on north-facing slopes is up to 2600 m isotherm and moist, on E/W facing slopes up to 3000 m, and on south-facing slopes up to summit levels. On sunny slopes, many areas below 1800 m are again bare of snow. The moist sticky fresh snow has bonded well and forms a thin melt-freeze crust during the night, then quickly softening in the morning. Sun and warmth are making the snowpack ever wetter. In steep grass-covered terrain which has not yet discharged, glide-snow avalanches are releasing, these can plummet down to bare slopes.

A weather change is coming at the beginning of next week. On Monday, very little change in avalanche danger levels, temperatures will gradually drop, heavy clouds will move in from the northwest, rain showers will result, becoming heavier in afternoon. Initially rainfall up to 2500 m, wet-snow and gliding snow activity temporarily increasing. In the following days, a late-winter phase will prevail, snowdrifts will again become a threat at high altitudes.