Weisseck, Muhr Valley

Isolated danger zones occur on steep shady slopes

Isolated danger zones occur on steep shady slopes

Avalanche danger above 2000m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Snowdrift accumulations can in some places be triggered even by one sole skier, esp. in steep ridgeline terrain, also on slopes behind protruberances in the landscape which are distant from ridgelines where they lie deposited atop a weak fundament, esp. on very steep shady slopes. Avalanches can grow to medium size if they fracture to more deeply embedded layers. Naturally triggered, mostly small glide-snow avalanches are possible in isolated cases.

About 5-10cm of fresh snow is anticipated on shady slopes above 1800-2000m, deposited often atop a loose old snowpack surface. In places the surface hoar will be blanketed. Inside the old snowpack on very steep shady slopes there are weak layers of faceted crystals. On the one hand, the snow was able to metamorphose esp. where snow is shallow; on the other, below the near-surface melt-freeze crust there are also faceted crystals. Snowdrifts can form a slab on the surface above the faceted crystals. On shady slopes loose snow is still evident.

On Thursday, visibility will deteriorate during the course of the day from the north, first the Northern Alps will disappear in fog, in the afternoon hours showers will extend to most of the mountain massifs and visibility worsen. By Thursday evening, up to 10cm of snowfall expected. Moderate to brisk westerly winds. At 2000m: from -6 to -3 degrees; at 3000m: -9 degrees.

Avalanche danger levels expected to increase slightly by Friday evening due to 10-20cm of fresh snow