Rätikon West

Snowdrift accumulations: assess them with caution

Snowdrift accumulations: assess them with caution

Small-area avalanche prone locations in the form of snowdrift accumulations, esp. in wind-loaded steep terrain, in gullies and bowls, and behind protruberances in the landscape, on shady slopes often triggerable above the treeline by one sole skier and then possibly growing to medium size. Danger zones are difficult to recognize when blanketed with fresh snow. In isolated cases, small slab avalanches can be triggered on high-altitude extremely steep shady slopes also in the old snow, usually by large additional loading and where the snow is shallow.

Only a few cm of fresh snowfall. Fresh and older snowdrift accumulations lie deposited esp. on steep shady slopes atop soft layers and are often prone to triggering. The uppermost layers are often still powdery (with the exception of wind-impacted zones), frequently encrusted on south-facing slopes. Also wind-crusts are evident. All in all, the snowpack is predominantly well consolidated.

Dry but often very cloudy skies. On Friday, high clouds will generate diffuse light conditions. Mild: zero-degree level will rise to nearly 2700m. At 2000: -5 to +3 degrees. Strong to stormy westerly winds, shifting to southwesterly later in the day.

Caution: small snowdrifts