Rätikon West

Beware snowdrifts, and continuing gliding snow avalanches

Beware snowdrifts, and continuing gliding snow avalanches

With ascending altitude, fresh snowdrift accumulations merit caution, medium slabs can be triggered by 1 person. Danger zones occur also distant from ridges, behind discontinuities and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls; they increase in both size and frequency with ascending altitude. In high alpine regions the danger zones are more frequent. Backcountry tours require a cautious route selection. Glide-snow avalanches continue to be possible, and can grow to large size where snowfall is heavy. Avoid zones below glide cracks.

The fresh fallen snow from foehn winds lies deposited atop an irregular snowpack, mostly hardened surfaces. Fresh and older snowdrift masses often lie deposited atop soft layers, esp. on shady slopes, and are trigger-prone. Below 2000 m the old snowpack is thoroughly moist, wet down to the ground, this reinforces gliding over smooth ground. Very little snow on the ground below 1500 m.

Brisk morning winds and clouds are bringing final showers, then dry and increasingly sunny. Later in the day, convective cloud build-up will bring renewed showers, snowfall level at 1300 m. Temperature at 2000 m: -5 to -2 degrees. Brisk W/SW winds.

Wednesday will be cloudy with some precipitation. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.