Pre Alps

Slightly increasing avalanche danger at high altitudes

Slightly increasing avalanche danger at high altitudes

Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations and weak layers in the old snow are prone to triggering. One single winter sports enthusiast can trigger small-sized slab avalanches. Danger zones occur especially near ridgelines and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls, as well as in extremely steep terrain. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow, the danger of being swept along and forced to take a fall require caution.

Fresh snowfall is anticipated: up to 15cm, 20cm from region to region. This and the loosely-packed old snow will be transported by the intermittently strong-to storm velocity winds. Fresh snow and drifts will be deposited frequently on top of a faceted, loosely-packed old snowpack surface or atop surface hoar and bond poorly with it. The old snowpack is unfavorably metamorphosed.

Nighttime hours: widespread and persistent snowfall. Snowfall level ascending in the region from Rhine Valley and Vorderwald to nearly 1000-1200m, accompaned by penetrating westerly winds in the evening and during the nocturnal hours. Friday: stormy in the mountains. Snowfall will recede to the barrier cloud regions of the Arlberg and Silvretta and taper off somewhat. Temperature at 2000m: from -3 to -6 degrees; at 3000m: from -10 to -15 degrees. Strong to storm-strength westerly to southwesterly winds at high altitudes, in places with storm-strength gusts.

Very cold plus strong-to-storm velocity winds and, starting on Saturday, increasingly frequent snowfall. Avalanche danger expected to increase further.