Snow and Avalanche Reports

Snow and Avalanche Status Report – 23.04.2019, 07:15

Moderate danger widespread: wet loose-snow+glide-snow avalanches in the morning; small snowdrifts in high alpine regions.

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

Regional danger levels

Problem: wet snow

3000 m

E/W facing slopes <2800 m; south-facing >3000

Problem: gliding snow

2400 m

steep grassy slopes, smooth rocks, hillsides

Common level

Tendency for tomorrow

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

Avalanche danger assessment

Moderate avalanche danger prevails. Even in early morning, danger of wet loose-snow and glide-snow avalanches increases in all aspects. Avalanche prone locations are found particularly on steep sunny slopes below approximately 3000 m, and on very steep north-facing slopes below 2400 m. Avalanches can also sweep along the old wet snowpack, expand to large size. Backcountry skiers can trigger small slides and avalanches. In high alpine regions, caution is urged towards the small-spread snowdrifts which have recently been generated on steep north-facing slopes.

Snow cover / General info

On Easter Monday it was partly sunny, winds were generally moderate, strong in some places, from south to southeast. In high alpine regions the loose old snow was transported and fresh snowdrift accumulations formed. The old snowpack at intermediate and high altitudes is thoroughly wet, by and large, the outgoing radiation is less effective than in recent days. Only at high altitudes does a melt-freeze crust form which is capable of bearing loads, subsequently softens as a result of solar radiation and daytime warming. There is danger of falling on the frozen crust in steep terrain.

Alpine weather forecast (ZAMG-Weather Service Innsbruck)

Brisk southerly foehn wind will prevail, particularly in the classic foehn-exposed valleys. It will remain quite warm. Dense cloudbanks will impair the sunshine until after midday. This afternoon, the clouds could disperse somewhat. The zero-degree level will be at 3000 m. At 2000 m: 2 to 8 degrees. Brisk to strong southerly winds, in the foehn zones blowing at storm strength.

Tendency for tomorrow

Foehn impact will persist. It will remain mild. Nocturnal outgoing radiation will be reduced. The danger of wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches is moderate already in the morning, rising further during the course of each day. Andreas Pecl Translated from the German by Jeffrey McCabe

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