Danger level

2000m

Wind slab		2000m
Wet snow		2200m

In high alpine regions avalanches can fracture in the old snowpack

Avalanche danger increases with ascending alttiude, above the treeline danger is CONSIDERABLE. The major problem: freshly generated snowdrift accumulations which can trigger a medium-sized slab avalanche even by minimum addtional loading. Danger zones occur both near to and far from ridgelines behind protruberancees in the landscape and in steep gullies and bowls, particularly in NW/N/SE facing slopes. Above 2400m, avalanches fracturing from the surface layer can fracture deeper and grow to large size in isolated cases. In sun-bathed steep terrain, naturally triggered small wet loose-snow avalanches can release, and small glide-snow avalanches are possible in steep grassy terrain.

Snowpack

Since Friday there has been 15-30 cm of fresh snow registered widespread, up to 40 cm over small areas on the Main Alpine Ridge of the Glockner and Venediger Massifs (with graupel). Stromy W/NW winds have transported the snow far-reachingly. Fresh snow and drifts cover surface hoar in shady, wind-protected zones, also older drifts (generated by southerly foehn winds from last week) at high altitudes. The snowpack base above 2400m is often weakened by layers of faceted crystals. Their proneness to triggering has diminished somewhat at high altitudes due to higher temperatures (there was brief rainfall up to 2200m). At low and intermediate altitudes the snowpack is intensely moistened due to solar radiation and higher temperatures, and is thus losing its firmness.

Tendency

The snowdrifts’ proneness to triggering is slowly decreasing. Otherwise, little change expected on Wednesday.

Danger level

treeline

Wind slab		Treeline
Wet snow

Snowpack

Tendency

Danger level

treeline

Wind slab		Treeline
Wet snow		2000m

Snowpack

Tendency

Danger level

2400m

Persistent weak layer		2400m
Wind slab		2400m

Major danger: snowdrift accumulations

As a result of fresh snow and moderate-tostorm strength winds, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations will be generated until midday esp. in gullies and bowls, behind protruberances in the landscape as well as in general above 2200m. These masses can often be triggered by the weight of one single skier or else trigger naturally. Avalanches occasionally grow to medium size. Frequency and size of the danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude. They are easily recognized by practiced backcountry skiers.

In addition, avalanches can in some places trigger in the weak old snow, particularly in ridgeline zones and in transitions into gullies and bowls.

Isolated loose-snow avalanches can be expected as a result of higher temperatures, particularly on the foot of rock cliffs.

Snowpack

dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
dp.1: deep persistent weak layer

Up to 10cm of fresh snow fell from place to place. The often stormy winds transported the fresh snow and often, also the old snow. Fresh snowdrift accumulations were generated particularly in ridgeline zones, in gullies and bowls and in general at high altitudes.

Snowdrift accumulations will be generated until midday, they blanket a weak old snowpack surface above 2400m. At mid-level in the snowpack there are faceted weak layers evident on shady slopes.

At all altitudes there is too little snow on the ground for this juncture of the season. The snowpack is highly irregular over small areas.

Tendency

Avalanche danger levels will gradually recede.

Danger level

2200m

Wind slab		2200m
Persistent weak layer		2400m

Fresh snowdrifts are main danger. Loose-snow and glide-snow avalanches due to higher temperatures.

At high altitudes, fresh snowdrift accumulations are prone to triggering. Danger zones occur mostly on shady slopes behind protruberances in the landscape, in gullies and bowls and on wind-loaded slopes. Size and spread tend to increase with ascending altitude. Small-to-medium slab avalanches can be triggered even by the weight of one single skier. At low altitudes and particularly on sunny slopes, moist loose-snow avalanches and small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches can trigger due to the higher temperatures.

Snowpack

The fresh snowfall is being deposited mostly on steep shady slopes atop metamorphosed old snowpack layers or atop surface hoar. On east-facing and sunny slopes, often atop encrusted surfaces. As a result of strong NW winds, widespread snowdrifts will accumluate. The fresh snow will be increasely poorly bonded with the old snowpack surface with ascending altitude. In places in high-altitude shady spots and where the snow is shallow, weak faceted layers are evident in the snowpack. All in all, the snowpack is highly varied: ridges are often windblown, gullies and bowls are filled to the brim with snow.

Tendency

The zero-degree level will ascend to nearly 3000m on Tuesday. High-altitude winds will be westerly, blowing at strong-to-stormy velocity. Snowdrifts are the main danger at high altitudes. At low altitudes, slides and glide-snow avalanches are possible.

Danger level

1900m

Wind slab

1900m

Considerate snowdrift in higher altitudes!

Snowpack

Tendency

Danger level

1800m

Wind slab		1800m
Wet snow

Snowdrifts at high altitude, wet snow at lower altitudes

Avalanche danger is moderate. Snowdrifts are problematic. Fresh and older snowdrifts can trigger a small-to-medium sized slab avalanche by minimum additional loading in some places. Danger zones occur in steep east and south-facing terrain, as well as in wind-loaded gullies and bowls, and tend to increase with ascending altitude. Releases are mostly small-sized. In isolated cases on very steep slopes where the ground is smooth, small glide-snow avalanches can unleash.

Snowpack

The generated snowdrift masses have been covered by freshly generated snowdrifts. The layers bneath the drifts are prone to triggering. On shady slopes at high altitudes there are layers of faceted crystals, in isolated cases these are prone to triggering. Below 1800m, widespread rainfall is expected. Loose, surface snow wil become moist-to-wet and forfeit its consolidation. The snow base is often moist, in some places wet, which reinforces gliding movements over smooth ground.

Tendency

Snowdrifts will continue to consolidate due to higher temperatures.

Danger level

1800m

Wind slab		1800m
Gliding snow		2200m

Avoid wind-loaded terrain

Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate. The main problem is freshly generated snowdrift accumulations which can trigger a small, and in isolated cases also a medium-sized slab avalanche even by minimum addiitional loading. Danger zones for slab avalanches occur near to and distant from ridgelines, particularly in NW/N/SE facing slopes and in steep ridgeline terrain. Above 2400m an avalanche which is unleashed on the surface can fracture down to deeper layers inside the old snowpack In very steep, unstructured terrain below 2200m, isolated naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches can unleash, also small loose-snow avalanches.

Snowpack

Since the weekend there has been 10-15 cm of fresh snow registered widespread, up to 30 cm over small areas on the Main Tauern Ridge and in the Leogang Steinberge and on Hochkönig (with graupel). Stromy W/NW winds have transported the snow far-reachingly. Fresh snow and drifts cover surface hoar in shady, wind-protected zones, also older drifts (generated by southerly foehn winds from last week) at high altitudes. The snowpack base above 2400m is often weakened by layers of faceted crystals. On very steep grassy slopes the snowpack can often glide over smooth ground. Their proneness to triggering has diminished somewhat at high altitudes due to higher temperatures (there was brief rainfall up to 2200m). At low and intermediate altitudes the snowpack is intensely moistened due to solar radiation and higher temperatures, and is thus losing its firmness.

Tendency

Little change expected on Wednesday.

Danger level

treeline

Wind slab		Treeline
Wet snow		2200m

Snowpack forfeiting its firmness on steep sunny slopes

Avalanche danger above the treeline is MODERATE. The main problem is freshly generated snowdrift accumulations which can trigger a small, and in isolated cases also a medium-sized slab avalanche even by minimum addiitional loading. Danger zones for slab avalanches occur near to and distant from ridgelines, behind protruberances in the landscape as well as in steep gullies and bowls, particularly on N/SE facing slopes. At low and intermediate altitudes, particularly on sunny slopes, naturally triggered small wet loose-snow avalanches can release, on very steep, unstructured terrain, e.g. grassy slopes, also naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches.

Snowpack

Fresh snow and snowdrifts (with graupel) blanket an unfavourable surface hoar, cover the snowdrifts above the treeline which were generated by W/NW stormy winds on the weekend. The snow is distributed highly irregularly, ridges are often windblown, and the fresh snow does not cover the ground sufficiently. At low and intermediate altitudes the rain impact on Monday morning will weaken the snow quality. On very steep grassy slopes the snowpack can glide over the smooth ground.

Tendency

On Monday, the proneness to triggering of snowdrift accumulations will gradually decrease.

Danger level

Wet snow

Snowpack

Tendency

Danger level

Wet snow
Gliding snow

Wet snow is the problem widespread

Avalanche danger is moderate. Wet snow is the problem. In very steep terrain in all aspects, wet loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally. In isolated cases avalanches can glide over smooth ground on very steep slopes. Loose-snow and glide-snow avalanches are generally small-sized.

Snowpack

Precipitation tomorrow will rapidly change from snowfall to rainfall. The loose, surface snow will be moist-to-wet and lose its bonding. The snow base is often moist, in some places wet, which reinforces gliding of the entire snowpack over smooth ground.

Tendency

The activity of wet avalanches will decrease.

Danger level

No distinct avalanche problem

Snowpack

Tendency

Danger level

treeline

Wind slab

Treeline

Avalanche danger in generally low, but isolated danger zones occur due to freshly generated snowdrift accumulations.

Avalanche danger is low. Danger zones due to fresh snowdrifts occur above the treeline on N/S facing slopes behind protruberances in the landscape and in steep gullies and bowls. These canb be trigger a small slab avalanche in isolated cases even by minimum additional loading.

Snowpack

The small amount of fresh fallen snow and fresh snowdrifts often blanket surface hoar or else faceted old snow and can be prone to triggering. The snow base is often quite shallow and in isolated cases is weakened by faceted layers on shady high-alpine slopes.

Tendency

On Tuesday, no significant change is expected.

Danger level

Wet snow

Above the treeline, snowdrifts. Loose-snow and glide-snow avalanches due to higher temperatures.

Above the treeline, fresh snowdrift accumulations are prone to triggering. Danger zones occur mostly on shady slopes behind protruberances in the landscape, in gullies and bowls and on wind-loaded slopes. Small, in isolated cases medium-sized avalanches can be triggered even by one single skier. At low altitudes, paricularly on sunny slopes, moist loose-snow avalanches and small glide-snow avalanches are possible on steep grassy slopes.

Snowpack

The latest bout of fresh snowfall is being deposited mostly on steep shady slopes atop metamorphosed old snowpack layers or atop surface hoar. On east-facing and sunny slopes, often atop encrusted surfaces. As a result of strong NW winds, widespread snowdrifts will accumluate. The fresh snow will be increasely poorly bonded with the old snowpack surface with ascending altitude. In places in high-altitude shady spots and where the snow is shallow, weak faceted layers are evident in the snowpack. All in all, the snowpack is highly varied: ridges are often windblown, gullies and bowls are filled to the brim with snow.

Tendency

Tuesday will be quite sunny and mild. Avalanche dangers are not expected to change significantly. Slides and small glide-snow avalanches are still possible.