Caution: increasing danger in daytime cycle of avalanche danger
Avalanche danger in the morning hours is low, rises during the afternoon hours to moderate above 1600m. On steep slopes in all aspects which have not yet discharged, wet-snow avalanches can release naturally or be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts and, in high altitude zones, grow to medium size. In isolated cases small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches are possible.
Snowpack
During the mild nighttime hours, reduced outgoing longwave radiation, the snowpack can freeze only superficially. With higher daytime temperatures and solar radiation the thin crust swiftly softens and the snowpack loses its firmness. Beneath the melt-freeze crust the snowpack is thoroughly wet. At high altitudes there is a small amount of fresh snow deposited atop a moist old snowpack surface.
Tendency
Avalanche danger will rapidly increase inside the daytime danger cycle.
BEFORE NOON Danger level
2600m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2600m
AFTERNOON Danger level
2600m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
2600m
Wind slab
2600m
Daytime increase of avalanche danger. Beware snowdrifts in high-alpine zones.
Avalanche danger is initially low, then rises during the afternoon above 1600m to moderate. On steep slopes below 2600m which have not yet discharged, medium-sized wet-snow avalanches can trigger naturally or be triggered by persons. Also isolated small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches are possible. In high-alpine zones, fresh snowdrift accumulations require attentiveness, most of them are small but often easily triggered. Danger zones occur in gullies, bowls, behind protruberances in the terrain and on steep shady slopes above 2600m. Isolated small-to-medium avalanches can be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts in the old snow. Avalanche prone locations lie in seldom-tracked shady terrain and are difficult to recognize.
Snowpack
During mild nights of clear skies, little wind and dry air, the snowpack has reduced nocturnal outgoing longwave radiation and only in some places can form a melt-freeze crust capable of bearing loads. Through higher daytime temperatures and solar radiation, the crust then softens rapidly and the snowpack loses its firmness. Beneath the melt-freeze crust the snowpack is thoroughly wet up to high altitudes. Especially in the Silvretta region on high-altitude very steep shady slopes there are still unfavorable intermediate layers evident inside the old snowpack.
Tendency
Avalanche danger will rapidly increase inside the daytime danger cycle.
