Isolated avalanche prone locations in the old snow due to ridgeline snowdrifts and weak layers
Avalanche danger is low. In a few places in steep terrain, minimum additional loading can trigger a small-to-medium slab avalanche. Danger zones due to small snowdrift patches occur especially above 2200m near ridgelines in extended east-facing terrain. As winds shift to southerly, frequent snowdrift patches will be generated also on north-facing slopes. In high-alpine terrain, in addition, on purely shady slopes (NW to NE) slab avalanches can be triggered in the old snow. In rocky terrain on sunny slopes, small loose-snow slides can trigger naturally. In general, there is still very little snow on the ground, thus the main danger stems from injuries in the terrain (falls, protruding stones, rocks, crevices, branches) rather than from snow and avalanches.
Snowpack
In wind-protected zones there is very loosely-packed fresh snow on the surface which is settling only very slowly. On sunny slopes the settling process is proceeding somewhat faster. In ridgeline zones the loosely-packed fresh fallen snow is covered in some places by fresh, shallow snowdrift patches. On shady slopes the blanketed surface hoar can serve as a weak layer in some cases. In gullies and bowls at high and high-alpine altitudes, generally hardened layers of melt-freeze crusts constitute the snowpack base (September snow). Faceted, often trigger-sensitive intermediate layers between this base and the bonded snow from November often weaken the layering. Below 1800m the fresh snow fell by and large on bare ground.
Tendency
Variable weather conditions and another bout of precipitation will raise avalanche danger a notch.
Danger level
2600m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2600m
In gullies and bowls, isolated avalanches are possible.
In gullies and bowls above approximately 2600m, isolated avalanches can be triggered particularly by large additional loading. The releases will mostly be small-sized and occur especially in shady, wind-protected zones along the Salzburg border. Apart from the risk of being buried in snow masses, the danger of being swept along and taking a fall should be taken into consideration.
Snowpack
Locally, 5-10 cm of fresh snow has been recorded. The somewhat older snowdrift accumulations now blanket a weak old snowpack on shady slopes above about 2600m. The upper part of the snowpack is soft; the mid-level layers are faceted; the lower layers are hardened. There is little snow on the ground.
Tendency
Little change in avalanche danger levels is expected.
