Some fresh fallen snow and intermittent strong-velocity northerly winds particularly along the Main Alpine Ridge are leading to freshly generated snowdrift masses. These masses are prone to triggering in places, especially in protected bowls and basins at great heights and in glaciated terrain.
As a result of fine weather in coming days, avalanche prone locations will be easily recognizable for practiced mountaineers; they should be avoided, particularly above sharp drops in the terrain.
Current situation
Weather: some fresh snow and significant descent in temperatures
The current precipitation is bringing 15 and 25cm of fresh fallen snow to widespread regions of Tirol’s mountains. At the same time, cold air masses from the far north in Europe are being detoured: the snowfall level will descend on Monday 17.11 in some regions down to nearly 500m. That means, in higher valleys, the first snowfall of the season is about to arrive.
Snowpack: drifted masses prone to triggering in places
Due to moderate strength northerly winds, fresh snowdrift accumulations will be generated, esp. on slopes near ridgelines, in bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape.
Deposited snowdrift masses will be more frequent and also larger in size and distant from ridgelines along the Main Alpine Ridge, where winds will temporarily be stronger on Monday night. That is also where the greatest amounts of fresh fallen snow are anticipated. (see map above with forecast amounts of fresh snow)
These snowdrift accumulations should be avoided at high altitudes, where they will be deposited atop a weak old snowpack. Protected zones such as bowls and basins are unfavourable as of about 2200m and upwards (increasingly dangerous with ascending altitude) where potential snowdrifts blanket a cohesive, area-wide old snowpack. This applies particularly to shady slopes, with increasing altitude also to west-facing and east-facing slopes.
Due to the ongoing low temperatures it can be assumed that the snowdrift masses will harden only slowly. Caution and restraint are urged particularly near sudden drops in the terrain, e.g. bowls or fall-points in potential plummet paths of avalanches. Avalanche can reach medium size only in isolated cases in the areas with large amounts of snow on the ground, but even a small avalanche can lead to a perilous fall.
We look forward to hearing reports from open terrain
As always at this juncture of the season, not much information is available regarding open terrain. You can help us fill this hiatus by giving us feedback, which improves our knowledge of the snow and avalanche situation.
That means, if you have your skis strapped on or are en route in open terrain either on foot or snowshoes, we look forward to your photos and reports via SNOBS.LIVE about the snow situation, any alarm or danger signals or simply observations about the snow quality. Thank you!
