Wind slab
- Above treeline
Rising danger above the timberline due to fresh snow and snowdrifts
Rising danger above the timberline due to fresh snow and snowdrifts
Fresh snow and small fresh snowdrifts are easily triggerable in steep ridgeline terrain and behind sharp drops in the terrain. One single winter sports enthusiast can trigger small-sized, in isolated cases medium-sized slab avalanches. Other danger zones occur on extremely steep, mostly shady slopes. In isolated cases, small avalanches can be triggered in the old snow in those places. Such avalanche prone locations occur particularly in transitions from shallow to deep snow, for example, at entry points into gullies and bowls. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the danger of being swept along and forced to take a fall also require caution.
The 10-20cm of fresh fallen snow often lies deposited atop loosely-packed fresh snow or drifts from recent days and a frequently melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack. In some places, the surface hoar has now been blanketed. Above all else, on steep shady slopes the often unfavorable intermediate layers inside the old snowpack have persisted. On south-facing slopes the fresh snow often fell on bare ground.
During the nocturnal hours, snowfall is anticipated down to about 500m. On Thursday, fog and poor visibility will dominate, amid light to moderate snowfall. Temperature at 2000m: -6 degrees; at 3000m: -13 degrees. Moderate westerly winds at high altitudes.
No significant change anticipated
Bulletin data: Avalanche Warning Service Vorarlberg (CC BY 4.0)