Verwall Mountains West

Rapid increase in likelihood of wet-snow avalanches triggering

Rapid increase in likelihood of wet-snow avalanches triggering

Above 2500 m favorable conditions prevail in the morning, low danger. Due to warmth and solar radiation, likelihood of wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches triggering naturally will rapidly increase over the course of the morning. During daytime hours, increasingly frequent wet-snow avalanches can be expected. If these sweep along the wet snowpack they can grow to large size. In addition, glide-snow avalanches can be expected, medium-to-large. Avoid zones below glide cracks. Beware huge cornices. Isolated danger zones for dry-snow avalanches can be triggered in the uppermost layers of the snowpack, esp. on steep shady slopes in high-alpine regions.

The most recent fresh snow has bonded well, has become moistened since Thursday up to high altitudes in all aspects. A melt-freeze crust forms at night then softens rapidly in morning. Beneath the fresh snow the snowpack is thoroughly moist down to the ground below 2600 m. Danger zones for dry-snow avalanches occur esp. on steep shady slopes at high and high-alpine altitudes.

Nocturnal hours: Thin cirrus clouds will not hinder nighttime nocturnal outgoing radiation, but the snowpack will freeze only slowly due to high temperatures. Saturday daytime: Marked high-pressure front conditions, sub-tropical air, sunshine, rising temperatures. At 2000 m: at midday -+9-14 degrees. Light to moderate W/NW winds.

As high-pressure front conditions wane Sunday will again be sunny and very warm. Springtime conditions reign with a daytime danger cycle. Backcountry undertakings should be terminated early in the day.