Lechtal Alps East

Considerable avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area. Backcountry touring calls for caution and restraint.

Considerable avalanche danger will be encountered over a wide area. Backcountry touring calls for caution and restraint.

The new snow and wind slabs of Thursday can be released easily, even by a single winter sport participant, in all aspects. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in all altitude zones. They are covered with new snow and are difficult to recognise. At a distance from ridgelines the wind slabs are larger. Isolated large avalanches are possible in particular here. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible. Additionally avalanches can also be released in the old snowpack. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found in steep terrain above the tree line. In steep rocky terrain small and medium-sized loose snow avalanches are to be expected, in the event of solar radiation in particular.

The snowpack will be generally prone to triggering. Over a wide area up to 30 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen since Thursday. The strong wind has transported the new snow significantly. The fresh snow as well as the extensive wind slabs formed during the snowfall are lying on soft layers in all aspects. Especially slopes close to the tree line are unfavourable. As a consequence of the sometimes storm force wind the wind slabs will increase in size additionally on Friday. Faceted weak layers exist in the snowpack, especially on steep slopes above the tree line. In shady places that are protected from the wind the snowpack is weaker. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack indicate the existence of a weak snowack.

A lot of snow will fall on Saturday over a wide area. The sometimes storm force wind will transport the new snow significantly. As a consequence of new snow and stormy weather there will be an additional increase in the avalanche danger.