Bollettino valanghe

New snow + wide-ranging snowdrifts prone to triggering

New snow + wide-ranging snowdrifts prone to triggering

New snow and far-reaching snowdrift accumulations are the main danger. Frequency and size of the avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude. Fresh drifts behind protruberances, in wind-loaded gullies and bowls are trigger-sensitive and can easily be released. Activities in backcountry demand restraint and great experience in assessing avalanche risks on-site. Also naturally triggered avalanches are possible. If avalanches fracture down to deeper layers they can grow to large size and endanger exposed zones.

Since yesterday there has been 30-50 cm of fresh snow registered widespread, 40-60 cm on Hochtannberg and Arlberg. Amid intermittently storm-strength winds, the snow was transported intensively, and deposited on shady slopes, often atop loose old snowpack layers, bonding with them poorly. The old snowpack is generally well consolidated and stable. Weak layers beneath the melt-freeze crusts at mid-level inside the snowpack can ordinarily be triggered only by large additional loading.

The heavy nighttime snowfall is slackening off only slowly. During the day, it will recede at certain interims. Towards evening it will intensify again. Temperature at 2000 m: -11 degrees. Strong NW winds at high altitude, frequently blowing at storm strength at the start and at the end of the day.

By Wednesday evening, an additional 50-60 cm of new snow is anticipated, particularly in the northern barrier cloud regions. Stormy winds will continue blowing. The avalanche situation will remain tense.