Bregenzerwald Mountains

Main danger: fresh and older snowdrifts and weak old snow on very steep shady slopes

Main danger: fresh and older snowdrifts and weak old snow on very steep shady slopes

Mostly low danger, moderate at high altitudes. Danger zones are found esp. above 2000 m: small frsh and older, now blanketed snowdrift accumulations in wind-loaded gullies and bowls and behind abrupt discontinuties in the terrain are prone to triggering. In addition, above 2200 m on very steep shady slopes the old layers of the snowpack are unfavourable. An avalanche can be triggered even by one single winter sports enthusiast, with increasing altitude even of medium size. This needs to be taken into consideration in all activities in outlying terrain. Naturally triggered releases (small slides) are possible in very steep terrain. Also where danger is low there are isolated dangerous spots in extremely steep terrain. Winter sports enthusiasts can trigger small slabs or loose slides in those areas. Apart from the danger of being buried in snow masses, the risks of being swept along and forced to take a fall need to be given due consideration.

On Monday it was quite sunny. High-altitude winds were light-to-moderate, often brisk in gusts, from West to Northwest. In higher ridgeline and pass areas, small snowdrift accumulations were generated. Fresh and older now blanketed snowdrifts are increasingly prone to triggering with ascending altitude. Due to the low temperatures, litte settling takes place, the latest snowfall remains very loose. Fresh and older snowdrifts lie deposited atop a cold, loose snowpack surface, often atop surface hoar. Particularly on very steep shady slopes above 2200 m, the old snowpack is expansively metamorphosed (faceted) from autumn. These intermediate layers are prone to triggering from winter sports enthusiasts, and are not recognizable to the naked eye. All in all, the snowpack is still irregular: wind-exposed terrain is often bare, now blanketed with a bit of fresh snow, and the gullies and bowls and zones behind abrupt discontinuities in the terrain are filled to the brim with drifts. Skiing tours and activities in outlying terrain are still not rewarding at low and intermediate altitudes. Further information is not yet available to the Avalanche Warning Service.

Monday night: skies will remain clear till after midnight, then from the southwest thin high-altitude clouds will move in. It will again by icy cold. Tuesday: some sunshine until after midday, decent visibility. In the afternoon, clouds will descend, the summits become shrouded in fog, little sunshine will be visible. Temperatures will rise slightly, but westerly winds will still make it seem very cold. At 2000 m: -10 to -5 degrees: Increasingly strong westerly winds at high altitude.

Wednesday: brisk to strong SW/W winds at high altitude, slightly higher temperatures. Zero-degree level: just under 2000 m. By evening, snowfall esp. in Bregenzerwald and Allgau Alps, snowfall level 1000-1500 m. The amounts of fresh snow will be minor. Particularly in ridgeline and pass areas, fresh snowdrift accumulations will form, size and spread will increase, avalanche danger levels can rise slightly.