Avalanche danger above the treeline is considerable, danger below that altitude is low. Snowdrift accumulations above the treeline can be easily triggered even by one single winter sports enthusiast and grow to medium size. Slab avalanches can often fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack and grow to large size. Danger zones occur particularly behind protruberances in the landscape, in gullies and blows and on wind-loaded slopes. Size and frequency tend to increase with ascending altitude. Whumpf noises and glide-cracks when the snowpack is stepped on are signals of danger. At low and intermediate altitudes on steep grass-covered slopes, small glide-snow avalanches are possible.
Snowpack
Strong to storm-strength W/NW winds are transporting 25cm-deep fresh snow, in barrier cloud zones up to 35cm. The snowdrifts which accumulate are being deposited atop a weak old snowpack surface, particularly on shady high altitude slopes, on sunny slopes often atop a thin melt-freeze crust. Weak layers occur on high-altitude wind-protected slopes, can also occur inside the snowdrifts themselves. At low altitudes the fresh snow and drifts lie deposited atop a moistened or encrusted old snowpack surface.
Tendency
Snowdrift accumulations will remain prone to triggering.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Slab avalanches in the snowdrifts can fracture down to deeper weak snowpack layers
Avalanche danger above the treeline is considerable, below that altitude danger is low. Snowdrift accumulations are the main problem. Slab avalanches of medium size can in some places b e triggered even by minimum additional loading, i.e. the weight of one person. In some places they can fracture down to deeper weak layers in the old snow and therebe grow to large size. Danger zones can be difficult to recognize due to diffuse light conditions. They occur also distant from ridgelines and on slopes in all aspects. Caution required at the edges of forest zobnes. In transitions from shallow to deep snow, slab avalanches in the old snow can be triggered by one single person.
Snowpack
The fresh fallen snow is being heftily transported. Inside the fresh snow, short-lived weak layers are forming near the surface. At high altitudes the fresh snow is falling atop a generatlly wind-compressed snowpack surface where the bonding is good. In wind-protected zones the old snowpack surface can be loosely packed and thus, constitute a weak layer. Deeper down inside the old snowpack fundament there are soft layers lodged between hard layers at high altitudes. At low and intermediate altitudes the old snowpack beneath the fresh fallen snow is melt-freeze encrusted. The snow base evidences no marked weak layers. However, the entire snowpack can start to glide over steep rock plates or grassy slopes.
Tendency
Snowdrift accumulations remain prone to triggering.
Due to fresh snowfall and increasily stormy winds, far-reaching snowdrift accumulations are being generated, particularly at the foot of rock cliffs and behind protruberances in the landscape. These can be easily triggered in all aspects above 2200m or else trigger naturally. In addition, avalanches can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack, especially along the Salzburg border where medium-sized releases are possible. Whumpf noises and glide-cracks when you tread upon the surface can be indicators of immediate danger. Frequency and sizes of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.4: cold following warm / warm following cold
Up to 20 cm of snowfall is expected from place to place. The widespread snowdrift accumulations on shady wind-protected slopes above 2200m are being deposited atop a weak old snowpack surface. At mid-level inside the old snowpack on shady, wind-protected slopes there are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers evident. The snowpack is highly irregular even over small areas.
Tendency
Evaluate snowdrift accumulations with great caution
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Fresh snowdrift!
Moderate avalanche danger above 1.800 m. Increasing danger spots during the night and on Friday morning are expected. These are located in the sectors north and southeast. Snowdrift is the main problem there. In the beginning of gullies and bowls and individaul person can trigger a slab avalanche which can have a size of 1 to 2.
Snowpack
The snow cover has formed a crust due to the tempurature drop. snowfall during the night, winds and low temperatures are called. The new snow is drifting and shows only poorly bonded layers to the old snow which has already settled. Depending on the altitude the snow cow can be moist/wet in the inner layers.
Tendency
Slab avalanche danger in high altitudes doesn´t change.
Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Snowdrift accumulations above the treeline can be triggered by one single skier and in isolated cases grow to medium size. Danger zones occur especially behind protruberances in the landscape, in gullies and bowls, and on wind-loaded slopes. Size and frequency of these avalanche prone locations tend to increase with ascending altitude. Below the treeline avalanche danger is low. At low altitudes small glide-snow avalanches are possible on steep grass-covered slopes.
Snowpack
Strong to storm-strength W/NW winds are transporting 25cm-deep fresh snow, in barrier cloud zones up to 35cm. The snowdrifts which accumulate are being deposited atop a weak old snowpack surface, particularly on shady high altitude slopes, on sunny slopes often atop a thin melt-freeze crust. Weak layers occur on high-altitude wind-protected slopes, can also occur inside the snowdrifts themselves. At low altitudes the fresh snow and drifts lie deposited atop a moistened or encrusted old snowpack surface.
Tendency
Snowdrift accumulations will remain prone to triggering.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Evaluate snowdrift accumulations on shady slopes with great caution
Due to fresh snowfall and increasily stormy winds, far-reaching snowdrift accumulations are being generated, particularly on shady slopes above 1800m: easily triggered or triggering naturally. Gullies and bowls are unfavorable, since weak layers are evident inside the old snow. Avalanches are mostly small-sized. Apart from the risk of being buried in snow masses, you also need to take the dangers of being swept along and forced to take a fall into consideration.
Snowpack
dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
Especially along the Italian border, up to 25cm of fresh snow is anticipated, locally more. The snowdrift accumulations blanket a weak old snowpack on shady slopes above 1800m. The old snowpack is faceted and highly irregular over small areas.
Tendency
Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.
Avalanche danger levels above the treeline are moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Snowdrifts are the major problem. Slab. avalanches of medium size can be triggered even by minimum additional loading, particularly near to ridgelines on N/E/SW facing slopes. Danger zones are difficult to recognize due to diffuse light conditions.
Snowpack
The fresh snow is being transported far-reachingly. Inside the fresh snow, short-lived weak layers are forming near the surface. At high altitudes the fresh snow is falling atop a generatlly wind-compressed snowpack surface where the bonding is good. In wind-protected zones the old snowpack surface can be loosely packed and thus, constitute a weak layer. Deeper down inside the old snowpack fundament there are soft layers lodged between hard layers at high altitudes. At low and intermediate altitudes the old snowpack beneath the fresh fallen snow is melt-freeze encrusted. The snow base evidences no marked weak layers. However, the entire snowpack can start to glide over steep rock plates or grassy slopes.
Tendency
Snowdrift accumulations will remain prone to triggering
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Avoid fresh snowdrifts.
Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Fresh snowdrifts are the main problem. Snowdrifts can be triggered as medium-sized slab avalanches even by minimum additional loading. Avalanche prone locations are found in steep ridgeline terrain in N/E/S aspects and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. At high altitudes, avalanches can fracture down to weak layers embedded in the old snow. Small glide snow avalanches still possible on steep smooth grass-covered slopes.
Snowpack
Stormy northwesterly winds will transport 10 cm to 20 cm of new fallen snow; in orographic barrier zones in Allgäu up to 30 cm of new fallen snow. When precipitations cease the wind will abate. Therefore, the snowdrifts are partly loosely blanketed and difficult to detect. At intermediate altitudes these are deposited on bare ground, in particular in south aspects, or on a moist old snow surface with which they will bond well. Weak layers are here mainly found embedded in the snowdrifts. Whereas in particular at high altitudes, these are often deposited atop a thin melt-freeze crust, under which a layer consisting of faceted crystals has formed which is prone to triggering. More deeply embedded in the snowpack there are also weak, expansively metamorphosed layers close to crusts. At intermediate altitudes the snowpack is wet down to the ground.
Tendency
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
No distinct avalanche problem
Generally good weather conditions-little snow!
Low avalanche danger. Due to cooling the snow cover forms a crust. Risk of falling! No high amounts of new snow are expected in this area. Small snowdrift deposits adjacent to rigelines could be triggered.
Snowpack
Snow base is still thin without significant weak layers. During the night surface hoar will form. A few centimeters new snow layer can acccumulate on surface hoar.
From Turracher Höhe till souther Niedere Tauern 10 cm - in Vitsch area 5 cm new snow are expected.
