Rätikon West

Caution on very steep shady slopes in high-alpine zones.

Caution on very steep shady slopes in high-alpine zones.

Winter sports enthusiasts can trigger small-to-medium-sized avalanches in the old snow. Danger zones occur on very steep NW/N/NE-facing slopes which are difficult to recognize, they increase with ascending altitude. Backcountry tours require an well-considered route selection. Avalanche danger increases during the course of the day. Particularly in intensively sun-bathed steep terrain, increasingly also on shady slopes, small-to-medium wet-snow avalanches are possible. The danger of small, in isolated cases medium-sized glide-snow avalances remains difficult to assess.

At high altitudes on very steep slopes, unfavorable intermediate layers in the old snowpack are evident. In zones with little wind impact the uppermost layers are still soft. The snowpack is throughly wet up to high altitudes but all-in-all well consolidated and stable. Due to daytime rise in temperatures and solar radiation, the snowpack weakens as the day unfolds.

Temperatures will drop noticeably during nighttimes of clear skies. Also on Tuesday, brilliantly sunny in all mountain massifs, not much cloud. Outstanding visibility, thanks to dry air. At 2000m: -3 to +2 degrees. Moderate northerly winds.

Danger of dry-snow avalanches will recede. On sun-bathed slopes, small wet avalanches are possible in steep terrain. Glide-snow avalanches are still possible.