Goldberg Group Central

Quickly increasing naturally triggered loose-snow/glide-snow avalanches in the morning

Quickly increasing naturally triggered loose-snow/glide-snow avalanches in the morning

Avalanche danger increases during the cours of the morning from moderate to considerable. Likelihood of wet-snow avalanches triggering swiftly rises, which can often sweep along wet old snow and grow to medium size, esp. on very steep slopes and in rough and rocky terrain on S/E/W facing slopes up to high alpine regions and on north-facing slopes up to 2600 m. On steep wind-protected slopes in extended north-facing terrain, small-to-medium loose-snow avalanches are possible. The danger of glide-snow avalanches is again increasing. They are possible in all aspects and at any time of day or night. In high starting zones which have not yet discharged they can be medium-sized and plummet down to greenlands, esp. from starting zones where there is still sufficient snow on the ground on N/E facing slopes. Avoid zones below glide cracks. Also previously bare slopes can release glide-snow avalanches.Isolated snowdrift masses in extended north-facing terrain can be triggered mostly by large additional loading, are easily recognized.

The snowpack on north-facing slopes is up to 2600 m isotherm and moist, on E/W facing slopes up to 3000 m, and on south-facing slopes up to summit levels. On sunny slopes, many areas below 1800 m are again bare of snow. The moist sticky fresh snow has bonded well and forms a thin melt-freeze crust during the night, then quickly softening in the morning. Sun and warmth are making the snowpack ever wetter. Glide cracks are a clear danger signal for the entire snowpack gliding downhill over smooth ground. In steep grass-covered terrain which has not yet discharged, glide-snow avalanches can release and plummet down to bare slopes.

The night will have clear skies and be unusually mild. On Friday, good visibility and sunshine, only a few convective clouds. Winds will be light from W/NW. At 2000 m: 5-10 degrees; at 3000 m: 2 degrees.

The snowpack is becoming ever wetter. Hardly any change in avalanche danger levels, latent danger of glide-snow avalanches dominates.