Snow and Avalanche Reports

Snow and Avalanche Status Report – 08.03.2021, 07:30

Beware high-altitude snowdrifts

Source of chars and avalanche status report: Landeswarnzentrale Vorarlberg - Avalanche Status Report

Regional danger levels

Problem: drifting snow

2000 m

steep ridgeline terrain, gullies, bowls

Common level

Tendency for tomorrow

https://warnung.vorarlberg.at/vtgdb/lawine/bilder_mail/EAWS/tendenz_fallend.png

Avalanche danger assessment

Moderate avalanche danger prevails above 2000 m. The major threat: fresh+older small-sized snowdrifts. Avalanche prone locations occur with ascending altitude primarily in steep ridgeline terrain, gullies and bowls. Small (sometimes medium) slabs can be triggered by one single skier. When skiing in extremely steep terrain, the fresh snow can also slide across the hard melt-freeze crust. Apart from the danger of being buried in snow, the risk of falling/getting swept along require caution. As a result of solar radiation, small-to-medium loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally in steep rocky terrain.

Snow cover / General info

During the daytime and into the night on Sunday, there was up to 5 cm of fresh snow registered. This now blankets older snowdrift accumulations which were frequently deposited on hard, rough surfaces. Bonding to the old snowpack is thus poor-to-moderate. Small loose-snow avalanches can easily be triggered in those places. As a result of intermittently strong winds, fresh drifts were generated especially in ridgeline terrain. In those areas and on high altitude wind-protected shady slopes, fresh and older snowdrifts (of limited spread) are often prone to triggering. On sunny slopes the snowpack surface moistened further yesterday, last night a breakable melt-freeze crust formed. This is now covered by a little fresh snow, it will lose its firmness during the course of the day.

Alpine weather forecast (ZAMG-Weather Service Innsbruck)

Instable weather this morning, visibility hindered by clouds, fog and minor snowfall. Conditions will improve slightly this afternoon. Temperature at 2000 m: -7 degrees. Light to moderate westerly winds at high altitude.

Tendency for tomorrow

During the night tonight skies will be slightly overcast to begin with. In early morning on Tuesday high-altitude compact cloud cover will move in. The later morning hours will be gloomy, in the afternoon a mixture of sunshine and clouds awaits us. Avalanche danger will decrease further. Andreas Pecl Translated by Jeffrey McCabe

This bulletin describes the overall situation. Please heed additional recommendations of local avalanche commissions or security services.