Pre Alps

Beware gliding snow at intermediate altitudes

Beware gliding snow at intermediate altitudes

Avalanche danger is moderate. Where there is rain impact in steep terrain, forest lanes and on smooth grassy slopes in all aspects which have not yet discharged, increasing wet-snow avalanches, and continuing glide-snow avalanches are possible, which can reach medium size. Beware zones below glide cracks. At high altitudes, fresh snowdrifts threaten, risky steep N/E/SW facing ridgeline slopes. Small-to-medium slab avalanches can be triggered by 1 person.

At high altitudes, 10-20 cm of fresh snow was registered, locally more. By Wednesday evening an additional 10-30 cm is anticipated as the snowfall level descends. At night, strong westerly winds will generate further snowdrift accumulations. Where they lie atop soft layers they are prone to triggering. The snowpack at intermediate altitudes is thoroughly wet down to the ground, thereby weakened. Many wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches were the result. Further gliding movement of the wet snowpack can be expected in steep zones which have not yet discharged. As temperatures drop, the snowpack cannot consolidate. There is currently little data from outlying regions available to the Avalanche Warning Service.

Nocturnal hours: Precipitation will intensify in the evening, the snowfall level drop from 2000 down to 1400 m during the night. Wednesday: Skies will be cloudy, intermittent snowfall or snow showers, descending snowfall level down to 1200 m. Small bright intervals are possible. At 2000 m: -2 degrees. Moderate westerly winds.

The impact of the low pressure front will persist. With the moist NW air current, lots of cloud cover can be expected, including fog and shower-like snowfall. Gradually, colder air masses will move in. The avalanche situation remains tense.