Verwall Mountains West

Caution urged in steep shady terrain seldom skied on and towards fresh snowdrifts

Caution urged in steep shady terrain seldom skied on and towards fresh snowdrifts

In some places avalanches can be triggered by one sole skier, generate small-to-medium sized releases, mostly above 2200m in transitions from shallow to deeper snow, e.g. at entry points into gullies and bowls. Danger zones tend to increase in frequency with ascending altitude. Activities in backcountry demand cautious route selection, particularly in shady steep terrain seldom skied on. Freshly generated snowdrift accumjlations are prone to triggering, require attentiveness in steep terrain. In isolated cases small glide-snow avalanches are still possible. Caution urged below glide cracks.

The snowpack is well consolidated up to high altitudes. Particularly on shady slopes there are weak layers evident which can easily be triggered. Snowpack surfaces are often powdery on shady, wind-protected slopes. Elsewhere there are wind crusts and a melt-freeze crust evident. Elsewhere a wind crust is evident which is often capable of bearing loads, on sunny slopes there is a melt-crust. Small snowdrift accumulations are evident. During the course of the day, the superficially encrusted snowpack will moisten on steep sunny slopes.

Nocturnal skies will remain dry amid high altitude cloudbanks. On Sunday, compact clouds will move in over summit level, visibility will be diffuse. At 2000m: -4 to -1 degree. Light to moderate-strength S/SW winds.

Avalanche danger levels not expected to change significantly