Fischbach Alps East, Wechsel

Caution urged towards glide-snow avalanches. Low danger.

Caution urged towards glide-snow avalanches. Low danger.

In the southern massifs, avalanche danger is low. Nevertheless, isolated glide-snow avalanches can release naturally on very steep hillsides and forest zones in all aspects as a result of the thoroughly wet snowpack. Due to ongoing solar radiation the applies ever more to south-facing slopes. In regions where snowfall has been heaviest isolated naturally triggered wet-snow avalanches in steep rocky terrain on sunny slopes cannot be ruled out.

Following snowfall on Wednesday (up to 15 cm) on Wednesday night temperatures rose significantly amid moist snowfall or rainfall. Apart from the snowpack continuing to settle, it became ever moister and instable in places. Due to persistent mild temperatures, not much firmness will be regained on Thursday night (despite outgoing radiation). Due to solar radiation, the snowpack will become ever moister and lose more of its stability, particularly on sunny slopes. A lubricating layer at ground level is furthering the likelihood of glide-snow avalanches triggering.

High-pressure conditions on New Year’s Eve will bring a brilliantly sunny day with mild temperatures. At midday at 2000 m: +8 degrees; at 1500 m: +11 degrees, far too high for this juncture of the season. The NW winds in eastern mountain regions will be brisk to strong. Following a night of largely clear skies, the high-pressure conditions will continue on New Year’s Day bringing sunshine and extremely mild mountain weather with brisk to strong NE winds particularly in the northeastern regions.

No significant change is expected in avalanche danger.