Avalanche Service Vorarlberg

Friday 17 April 2026

Published 17 Apr 2026, 10:04:00

EARLIER

Danger level

2500m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2500m

LATER

Danger level

2800m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
2800m
Persistent weak layer
2500m

Naturally triggered avalanches expected during course of day

Rapidly rising wet-snow avalanche danger during course of day

During the course of the day, danger of wet-snow avalanches will increase. Isolated wet slab avalanches can be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts. After the melt-freeze crust (capable of bearing loads) softens iup, also naturally triggered wet-snow avalanches are possible. Caution urged particularly towards steep shady slopes at 2200-2500m which have not yet discharged and slopes in all aspects where there is area-wide snow on the ground. Avalanches can fracture in weak old snowpack layers, in isolated cases grow to large size and lay back huge runout zones, quite atypically. Backcountry tours and ascents to refuges need to be launched early in the day and brought to an end early.

Snowpack

During the night, a melt-freeze crust will form which is capable of bearing loads, then soften up during the daytime. At altitudes of 1800-2500m the ground-level layer of rotten snow is thoroughly wet even on north-facing slopes and is prone to triggering. On shady, steep high-altitude slopes there are unfavorable intermediate layers in the uppermost metre of the snowpack which can be triggering in some places. A deep mid-level section of compact layers blankets a fundament of buried hoar and faceted crystals.

Tendency

Nocturnal outgoing radiation will be good. Conditions during the morning hours will be good. During the daytime, danger of wet-snow avalanches will increase.

EARLIER

Danger level


Avalanche Problem
Wet snow

LATER

Danger level


Avalanche Problem
Wet snow

Wet-snow danger in very steep terrain where there is still lots of snow

During the course of the day, danger of wet-snow avalanches will increase to moderate. Isolated wet slab avalanches can be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts. Avalanche prone locations occur generally only in summit zones. Avalanches will generally be medium-sized. On steep slopes where there is still lots of snow on smooth ground, glide-snow avalanches can trigger in all aspects.

Snowpack

During the night, a melt-freeze crust will form which is capable of bearing loads, then soften up during the daytime. The snowpack is thoroughly wet up to summit zones in all aspects.

Tendency

Nocturnal outgoing radiation will be good. Conditions during the morning hours will be good. During the daytime, danger of wet-snow avalanches will increase.


Danger level


Avalanche Problem
Wet snow


Small wet-snow slides possible

On extremely steep slopes, persons can in isolated cases trigger wet loose-snow slides where there is still sufficient snow on the ground.

Snowpack

During the night, a melt-freeze crust will form which is capable of bearing loads, then softens up during daytime hours. The slopes are largely bare of snow. Where there is a snowpack, it is thoroughly wet.

Tendency