Bulletin d’avalanche

Wet-snow avalanches due to warmth+rainfall. Transport+snowdrifts at high altitude.

Wet-snow avalanches due to warmth+rainfall. Transport+snowdrifts at high altitude.

Avalanche danger is moderate. Fresh snowdrifts are prone to triggering high-altitudes. Small-to-medium avalanches can be triggered by one single skier. Danger zones are found particularly in wind-loaded ridge zones and in high alpine regions. Size and frequency increase with ascending altitude and with further snowfall. Due to warmth and rainfall, the snowpack at lower altitudes will forfeit its firmness. In the course of the day in all aspects, moist loose-snow and wet-snow avalanches can be expected. Glide-snow avalanches are also possible on steep grassy slopes. At low altitudes there is hardly any snow on the ground.

On Thursday, especially during the night, there was rainfall. There was 10-15 cm of fresh snow registered at high altitudes. Strong-to-stormy winds led to snow transport, generated fresh snowdrift accumulations. Bonding to the old snowpack is generally good, but deteriorates with ascending altitude and in ridgeline terrain. Small-to-medium avalanches can trigger inside the fresh snow and drifts, or in the layer of dust from the Sahara. Due to rain seepage the snowpack has become moist up to intermediate altitude. Below 1000-1200 the slopes are mostly bare of snow.

Strong-to-storm strength winds, lots of cloud, repeated rain showers. The snowfall level will ascend to 2000 m. Dry phases intermittently, esp. in Rätikon and Silvretta. At 2000 m: 0 to +2 degrees. Stormy W/SW winds.

In the latter part of the night, temperatures will plummet, snowfall down to low lying areas will follow, and continuing stormy gusts in the mountains. Saturday will be wintery. The danger of wet-snow avalanches will recede. At intermediate and higher altitudes the danger of dry-snow avalanches will increase.