Bregenzerwald Mountains

Beware fresh snowdrift accumulations

Beware fresh snowdrift accumulations

Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations are prone to triggering, occur in steep terrain near to and distant from ridglines, behind drops in the landscape, in gullies and bowls in all aspects. Danger zones rapidly increase in frequency and in size with altitude above the timberline. Marked weak layers in the old snow can be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts, particularly on steep, little-skied on slopes. Avalanche prone locations are impossible to see, require a defensive route selection. Avalanches superficially triggered can fracture down to deeper layers inside the snowpack and grow to medium size.

As a result of some snowfall and storm-strength westerly winds, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations will be generated. The small amount of fresh snow and drifts will be deposited on top of a frequently melt-freeze encrusted snowpack surface, sometimes with surface hoar. Particularly on steep shady slopes, unfavorable base and intermediate layers often occur inside the old snowpack, where they persist.

At the end of a nocturnal front, clouds will dissipate, possibly leaving some residual high fogbanks behind. Elsewhere, slightly cloudy, increasing sunshine in the mountains. Temperature at 2000m: -6 to -2 degrees; at 3000m: -10 degrees. Winds at high altitudes will taper off, shift to southwesterly (but remain strong in the classic foehn-exposed zones).

No significant change anticipated