Verwall Mountains West

Caution: freshly generated snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering in places

Caution: freshly generated snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering in places

Through fresh snow and wind, snowdrift accumulations have been generated which are prone to triggering. Danger zones tend to increase in frequency with ascending altitude and occur particularly in steep shady terrain, but also behind protruberances in the landscape, in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Avalanches can in places be triggered by one sole skier and reach medium size. Activities in backcountry demand experience in assessing avalanche dangers and defensive conduct. In addition, weak layers in the old snow can be triggered, particularly on steep shady slopes above 2200m, in transitions from shallow to deep snow and in zones where the snow is shallow. The danger of small, in isolated cases medium-sized glide-snow avalanches is still difficult to assess. Caution urged below glide cracks.

Fresh snow registered (15-25cm, locally more), deposited on a largely well consolidated old snowpack, then transported by northerly winds. The snowdrift accumulations are often prone to triggering. Esp. on shady slopes and in wind-protected zones at high altitudes, snowdrift will be deposited atop a loose snowpack surface, often atop breakable crusts, sometimes on crusts which can carry loads and on steep sunny slopes atop a melt-freeze crust. Solar radiation and higher temperatures during the daytime hours will moisten the fresh snow on sunny slopes.

Tranquil winter weather. Throughout the region, sunshine from early until late beneath brilliant azure skies. Following heavy frost, temperatures will rise during the daytime. At 2000m:-11 to -3 degrees. Light-to-moderate northeasterly winds, later shifting to northwesterly.

Avalanche danger levels will slowly recede.