Lechquellen Mountains

Achtung winter sports enthusiasts: high avalanche danger above 2000 m.

Achtung winter sports enthusiasts: high avalanche danger above 2000 m.

Main problem: heavy snowfall. Above 2000m avalanche danger is high, elsewhere danger is mostly considerable. Danger zones occur on steep slopes in all aspects. Naturally triggered avalanches are possible and can place exposed transportation routes at risk. Avalanches can be triggered by one sole person and grow to large size. With approaching solar radiation even loose-snow avalanches are possible in steep rocky terrain. Activities in outlying terrain require experience in assessing the terrain and avalanche dangers as well as disciplined restraint. On hillsides and steep grassy slopes in all aspected, glide-snow avalanches are possible which can easily reach medium size.

The large amounts of fresh fallen snow with little wind have been able to settle at lower altitudes and bond with the old snowpack. At higher altitudes the settling process takes longer, due to low temperatures. In places there are soft layers or older snowdrift accumulations which have been blanketed over, and the bonding inside the fresh snow and between fresh and older snow is poor. In high altitude ridgeline terrain, the fresh snow has already been transported, generating new snowdrift masses. Particularly on steep shady slopes above 2200 m the old snowpack from late autumn shows evidence of unfavourable intermediate layers. There is currently little data available to the Avalanche Warning Service about the snowpack in various regions.

Nocturnal hours: the snowfall will come to an end. Cloud cover will disperse, the sky will be star-studded and it will be very cold. Cloudless to slightly cloudy. In places, some residual fog will cling to the mountain flanks. Winds make it feel even colder than it is. At 2000 m: -14 to -8 degrees. Light to moderate NW winds.

On Monday, rising temperatures. The snowpack will be able to settle another notch and increasingly consolidate. As W/SW winds intensify, snow transport will begin at high altitudes. Thus, the avalanche situation continues to be treacherous and tense.