Tennen Mountains, Gosaukamm

Foehn wind generating fresh snowdrifts onto north-facing slopes

Foehn wind generating fresh snowdrifts onto north-facing slopes

Fresh snowdrifts occur as of the timberline in places. Starting at 2000 m in northern aspects they are easily triggered. The impulse of one single person can trigger a medium-to-large slab avalanche. Especially treacherous are W/N/E aspects. Due to windblown terrain and the generally rough ground in backcountry touring zones, avalanche prone locations are easy to underestimate. Second danger: very steep terrain, where small-to-medium superficial loose-snow avalanches and isolated glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally as a result of the higher temperatures.

The cold fresh snow from Thursday daytime and Thursday night (15-30 cm) will be transported by southerly winds to north-facing slopes on Friday. In classic foehn lanes these will be deposited atop cold and loosely-packed snow. At low and intermediate altitudes the snow will become superficially moist.

Overcast skies from the start. Summits are free of cloud, only the highest peaks are in fog. Further north, intermittent snowfall is possible, snowfall level ascending to over 1600 m. At 2000 m temperatures rising to +1 degree, at 3000 m to -6 degrees. Southerly winds at 40 km/hr will prevail above 2000 m. On Saturday night and during the daytime on Sunday, 10-20 cm of fresh snow is anticipated. On Sunday the peaks will often be veiled in cloud, intermittent snowfall is anticipated. At high altitudes, a strong NW wind will be blowing (40-60 km/hr) which will slacken off somewhat in the afternoon. Temperatures will drop: at 2000 m to -9 degrees.

As a result of fresh snowfall and westerly winds, fresh snowdrift accumulations will be generated. Avalanche danger levels will increase.