Rising avalanche danger above the treeline due to fresh snow and wind
Above the treeline, fresh snowdrifts are accumulating. They are often prone to triggering and easily triggered as a slab avalanche. Their magnitude and spread tend to increase with ascending altitude. Avalanche headquarters currently has little data from outlying regions about the snowpack, for that reason a cautious on-site evaluation is important. Below the treeline, avalanche danger is low. Isolated danger zone for small triggerings (slides) are possible in steep terrain. The risks of being swept along and forced to take a fall need to be considered.
Snowpack
Up to intermediate altitudes, the shallow snowpack has been weakened by rainfall. During the coming night of partially clear skies, it will regain firmness. By Saturday evening, an additional 5-10 cm of fresh snow is anticipated, to be transported by winds. Above the treeline, and with ascending altitude, particularly in ridgline and pass areas, fresh and initially small snowdrift accumulations will be generated. They are prone to triggering in ridgeline zones and, in particular, in steep wind-loaded gullies and bowls.
Tendency
As a result of some fresh fallen snow and wind influence, avalanche danger can rise further by Sunday.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Snowdrifts at high altitudes prone to triggering
Avalanche danger above 1800m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Snowdrifts are the major problem, they can trigger small-to-medium sized slab avalanches by minimum addtional loading, e.g. the weight of one single skier. Danger zones occur near to and distant from ridgelines due to strong winds in steep terrain on NW-E-S facing slopes and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. The frequency of avalanche prone locations tends to increase with ascending altitude. Small glide-snow avalanche on smooth, steep grassy slopes at low and intermediate altitudes and small loosely-packed slies in steep rocky terrain are possible.
Snowpack
Highly stormy winds are transporting the fresh fallen snow and accumulating drifts in leeward slope regions. Inside the drifts there are often soft, trigger-sensitive intermediate layers. The fresh snow and fresh drifts are being deposited atop bare ground at low and intermediate altitudes, or atop a moist old snowpack surface, but can bond well with them. At high altitudes, there is a layder of faceted crystals beneath a melt-freeze crust, this can be trigger-sensitive. At low and intermediate altitudes the base of the snowpack is wet down to the ground, thus, the snow can glide away over smooth ground surfaces. All in all, there is still little snow on the ground.
Tendency
As more snowfall arrives, avalanche danger can rise slightly.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Persistent weak layer
2600m
Caution urged towards trigger-sensitive snowdrift masses, also in zones distant from ridgelines.
Avalanche danger above 2000m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Due to strong winds from varying directions, snowdrift accumulations are being generated, thereby making avalanche prone locations in all aspects, including distant from ridgelines, which are extremely prone to triggering and which can trigger a medium-sized slab avalanche even be minimum additional loading. Moreover, in high alpine terrain on purely shady slopes (NW-NE) slab avalanches can be triggered in the old snow and reach medium size. In general, there is still little snow on the ground, danger zones in outlying terrain are often only minimally blanketed by fresh snow.
Snowpack
Fresh snowdrift accumulations are deposited particularly on shady slopes atop older layers of loose fresh snow and faceted (expansively metamorphosed) crystals. In gullies and bowls at high and high alpine altitudes there are often hardened layers of melt-freeze crusts (September snow) as well as layers of faceted crystals between the hard fundament and the bonded fresh fallen snow from the last days in November. The snowpack is diversely distributed. Below 1800m there is little snow on the ground, fresh fallen snow has fallen on bare ground.
Tendency
Some fresh snowfall will make avalanche danger rise a further notch.
Danger level
2400m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2400m
Starting at midday, avalanche danger is expected to rise.
As a result of fresh fallen snow and frequently storm-strength NW winds, fresh snowdrifts are accumulating. The fresh snowdrifted masses can easily be triggered above 2400m in all aspects, or else trigger naturally, particularly at the foot of cliffs and behind protruberances in the landscape along the Salzburg border in those regions where there is lots of wind. Avalanches are medium-sized in isolated cases. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, also the danger of being swept along and being forced to take a fall need to be considered.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
From place to place, 5-15 cm of snowfall is anticipated, locally more. Winds will be blowing intermittently at storm-strength. Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations are poorly bonded with each other and with the old snow. The upper layers of the snowpack are soft; the lower layers are faceted.
Tendency
Forecasts of developments, including of avalanche danger, are still uncertain.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
No distinct avalanche problem
Treeline
Rising avalanche danger above the treeline due to fresh snow and wind.
Fresh snow is expected: 5-10 cm. Above the treeline, fresh, small snowdrift accumulations will be generated. Avalanche headquarters currently has little data from outlying regions about the snowpack, for that reason a cautious on-site evaluation is important. Below the treeline, avalanche danger is low. Isolated danger zone for small triggerings (slides) are possible in steep terrain.
Snowpack
Up to intermediate altitudes, the shallow snowpack has been weakened by rainfall. During the coming night of partially clear skies, it will regain firmness. By Saturday evening, an additional 5-10 cm of fresh snow is anticipated, to be transported by winds. Above the treeline, and with ascending altitude, particularly in ridgline and pass areas, fresh and initially small snowdrift accumulations will be generated. They are prone to triggering in ridgeline zones and, in particular, in steep wind-loaded gullies and bowls.Rising avalanche danger above the treeline due to fresh snow and wind
Tendency
As a result of some fresh fallen snow and wind influence, avalanche danger can rise slightly.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Small danger zones due to freshly generated snowdrifts
Avalanche danger is low. Due to fresh fallen snow and stormy winds, the fresh snowdrift masses (which can often be unleashed by one single person) are triggerable. Avalanches will be small-sized. Danger zones occur in wind-loaded gullies and bowls, especially on N-E-S facing slopes. Also in zones distant from ridgelines, small snowdrifts can be prone to triggering. During the course of the day, isolated small loose-snow slides are possible in sunny, steep, rocky and rough terrain. Avalanche prone locations in outlying terrain are often only barely covered. The risks of falling and sustaining injuries need to be considered.
Snowpack
Due to storm winds, fresh snowdrifts are accumulating. These lie deposited on bare ground to some extent atop a slightly moistened old snowpack surface and are bonding well with these surfaces. Inside the snowdrifts, soft layers can be deposited which are temporarily prone to triggering. In general, there is still little snow on the ground, and due to stormy winds it is distributed irregularly.
Tendency
Hardly any change in avalanche danger levels is expected. The snow is settling and weak layer are slowly deteriorating.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Caution urged towards small snowdrift accumulations
Avalanche danger is low, Fresh drifts are the main problem. They can trigger small-to-medium sized slab avalanches by minimum addtional loading, e.g. the weight of one single skier. Danger zones occur near to and distant from ridgelines due to strong winds in steep terrain on NW-E-S facing slopes and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. The frequency of avalanche prone locations tends to increase with ascending altitude. Small glide-snow avalanche on smooth, steep grassy slopes at low and intermediate altitudes and small loosely-packed slies in steep rocky terrain are possible.
Snowpack
Highly stormy winds are transporting the fresh fallen snow and accumulating drifts in leeward slope regions. Inside the drifts there are often soft, trigger-sensitive intermediate layers. The fresh snow and fresh drifts are being deposited atop bare ground at low and intermediate altitudes, or atop a moist old snowpack surface, but can bond well with them. At high altitudes, there is a layer of faceted crystals beneath a melt-freeze crust, this can be trigger-sensitive. At low and intermediate altitudes the base of the snowpack is wet down to the ground, thus, the snow can glide away over smooth ground surfaces. All in all, there is still little snow on the ground.
Tendency
As more snowfall arrives, avalanche danger can rise slightly.
