Pre Alps

Watch out for small snowdrift accumulations

Watch out for small snowdrift accumulations

Avalanche danger above the timberline is moderate, danger below that altitude is low. Freshly generated small snowdrift accumulations are increasingly prone to triggering with ascending altitude. Avalanches can in places be triggered by one sole skier. The risks of being swept along and forced to take a fall require adequate consideration. A cautious route is advised for backcountry tours. Through higher temperatures and solar radiation, loose-snow avalanches can be expected on extremely steep slopes. The danger of small, in isolated cases medium-sized glide-snow avalanches is still difficult to assess. Caution urged below glide cracks.

Fresh snow registered (15-25cm), deposited on a largely well consolidated old snowpack, then transported by northerly winds. The snowdrift accumulations are often prone to triggering. Esp. on shady slopes and in wind-protected zones at high altitudes, snowdrift will be deposited atop a loose snowpack surface, often atop breakable crusts, sometimes on crusts which can carry loads and on steep sunny slopes atop a melt-freeze crust. Solar radiation and higher temperatures during the daytime hours will moisten the fresh snow on sunny slopes.

Tranquil winter weather. Throughout the region, sunshine from early until late beneath brilliant azure skies. Following heavy frost, temperatures will rise during the daytime. At 2000m:-11 to -3 degrees. Light-to-moderate northeasterly winds, later shifting to northwesterly.

Avalanche danger levels will slowly recede.