Danger level

2300m

Persistent weak layer		2300m
Gliding snow		2500m

Often favorable conditions apart from weak layers in old snow

Danger zones occur particularly in shady steep terrain where the snow is shallow and in transitions from shallow to deep snow. Caution: these spots are not recognizable. Glide cracks and settling noises are signals of danger. If avalanches fracture down to deeper layers of the snowpack they can grow to large size. On steep grassy slopes, and on sunny slopes in general, but increasingly frequently also on shady slopes, small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches are possible.

Snowpack

The fresh fallen snow and fresh drifts from the most recent period of precipitation have settled further and consolidated increasingly. On shady slopes it is still mostly loose, on sunny slopes a crust has often formed. On high mostly shady slopes, weak layers are evident inside the old snowpack which avalanches can trigger down to. Snowpack analysis and observations of fractures and isolated artificial triggerings corroborate this.

Tendency

Sunny and mild in the mountains, avalanche danger levels not expected to change significantly

Danger level

2200m

Persistent weak layer		2200m
Gliding snow		2400m

Main problem: weak layers in old snow at high altitudes

Avalanche danger levels are moderate. Avalanches can be triggered even by minimum additional loading in some places above 2200m. Danger zones occur particularly on north-facing slopes above 2200m. Danger zones increase in frequency with ascending altitude. Avalanches can be medium-sized. Caution urged in transitions from shallow to deep snow. Glide-snow avalanches of medium size can trigger at any time of day or night. Circumvent zones below glide cracks.

Snowpack

At night on sunny slopes and at low altitudes, a melt-freeze crust can form which then softens during the course of the day. The fresh snow has been transported far-reachingly. Exposed ridges and crests are windblown, gullies and bowls are filled to the brim even at the forest rims. The most recent snowfall has settled well, it is still loose on north-facing slopes. Above 2200m the snowpack layering is generally unfavorable with several weak layers of faceted crystals. Over small areas faceted crystals at ground-level layers at low altitudes are still prone to triggering. The entire snowpack can glide over steep rock plates or grassy slopes.

Tendency

Danger level

1800m

Persistent weak layer		1800m
Gliding snow		2200m

Persistent weak layer at high altitudes

Avalanche danger above 1800m is moderate. Weak layers in the old snowpack are the main problem Slab avalanches can be triggered even by the weight of one sole person, particularly by large additional loading. Danger zones occur in steep ridgeline terrain especially in shady aspects, near ridgelines, in steep high altitude terrain and in shallow snow. Avalanches can grow to medium size. In addition, gliding snow requires high attentiveness. Glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally at any time of day or night, particularly on sunny steep grass-covered slopes, in some places in shady terrain near the forest rims. and on rock plates. At high altitudes they can reach medium size.

Snowpack

Mild temperatures have helped the snowpack to settle and consolidate. Powder or wind-impacted snow has been generated in ridgeline terrain at high altitudes on north-facing slopes. The uppermost metre of the snowpack often has a weak layer beneath a melt-freeze crust, this has persisted. At high altitudes, there are intermediate layers of faceted crystals. At low altitudes the snowpack is moist down to the ground. Gliding movements over smooth grass-covered slopes are less frequent but still possible in the heights.

Tendency

Avalanche danger levels will diminish further.

Danger level

2200m

Persistent weak layer

2200m

Main problem: persistent weak layer

Avalanche danger levels above 2000m are moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Avalanches of medium size can be triggered even by minimum additional loading in some places above 2200m, particularly on W/N/SE facing slopes and in transitions from shallow to deep snow. Danger zones increase with ascending altitude. Avalanches can reach medium size.

Snowpack

The snow on sunny slopes and at low altitudes can form a melt-freeze crust at night which then softens during the daytime. Exposed ridges and crests are windblown, gullies, bowls and slopes near forest rims are filled with snow. The transported snow has settled in the interim. Above 2000m the snowpack layering is generally unfavorable, several weak layers are evident with faceted crystals. Especially on north-facing slopes the covered surface hoar is prone to triggering.

Tendency

Danger level

1900m

Persistent weak layer		1900m
Gliding snow

Moderate Avalanche Dance due to increasing old snow problem in high altitudes! Spontaneous wet- and gliding snow avalanches on sunny slopes.

Moderate avalanche danger above 1.900 m, below that: low avalanche danger. Danger is caused by older driftsnow deposits which are located on a weak layers within the old snow. Especially the expositios northeast and southeast behind ridgelines and the beginnings of gullies and bowls are affected. Medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered with small additional loads. On sunny slopes spontaneous small-sized wet and gliding snow avalanches are possible.

Snowpack

Exposed areas such as summits are blown-off and icy. Due to wind transfer, there is snowdrift in gullies and bowls. In shady high slopes there are faceted snow layers in the old snow which can form weak layers. Surface hoar has formed which stays only in shady areas. In sunny sides the surface turns wet or firn-like. On smooth surfaces the snow cover starts gliding on sunny slopes.

Tendency

No significant change of the avalanche danger. The high pressure system will last till Tuesday.

Danger level

2200m

Persistent weak layer

2200m

Avalanche danger limited to high altitudes

Avalanche danger above 2000m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Weak layers in the old snowpack are the main problem. Slab avalanches can trigger even by the weight of one single person. Danger zones occur in steep ridgeline terrain especially in shady aspects, near ridgelines, in steep high altitude terrain and in transitions from shallow to deep snow. Medium-sized avalanches cannot be ruled out. Isolated small glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally at any time of day or night where there is sufficient snow on the ground.

Snowpack

Mild temperatures have helped the snowpack to settle and consolidate at intermediate altitudes. Settled powder snow is to be found on shady slopes. At high altitudes, there are intermediate layers of faceted crystals. On sunny slopes the snowpack moistens, then forms a breakable melt-freeze crust during the nocturnal hours. At low altitudes the snowpack is shallow and moist down to the ground. Gliding movements over smooth grass-covered slopes cannot be excluded.

Tendency

Avalanche danger levels will diminish further.

Danger level

2600m

Persistent weak layer

2600m

Evaluate with caution: persistent weak layer.

The hardened snowdrift accumulations of recent days can be triggered generally by large additional loading on steep W/N/SE facing slopes above 2400m. One single skier can trigger them only in isolated cases. Danger zones occur particularly in gullies, bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape. Avalanches can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack on shady slopes in particular, and then grow to medium size. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude.
On extremely steep sunny slopes, isolated generally small-sized loose-snow avalanches can be expected due to daytime warming and solar radiation.

Snowpack

dp.1: deep persistent weak layer

The hardened snowdrifts from the last few days now blanket a weak old snowpack surface above 2600m on W/N/SE facing slopes. The various snowdrifts are often still poorly bonded with each other and with the old snowpack. Inside the old snowpack there are expansively metamosphosed, faceted crystals, particularly on shady wind-protected slopes.
The snowpack is highly irregular, even over small areas. At all altitudes there is too little snow on the ground for this juncture of the season.

Tendency

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.

Danger level

1900m

Persistent weak layer

1900m

Little snow but moderate Avalanche danger due to old snow problem in high altitudes!

Moderate avalanche danger above 1.900 m, below that: low avalanche danger. Danger is caused by older driftsnow deposits which are located on a weak layers in the old snow in high altitudes and shady slopes. Especially the expositios north to southeast close to the Alpenhauptkamm behind ridgelines and the beginnings of gullies and bowls are affected. Small to medium slab avalanches can be triggered with small additional loads.

Snowpack

South of the Alpenhauptkamm the snowcover is still thin. Exposed areas are blown-off and icy. Due to wind transfer, there is a bit more snow in gullies and bowls. The snow base doesn’t have significant weak layers. In shady high slopes there are faceted snow layers in the old snow which form weak layers. Surface hoar has formed which stays only in shady areas. In sunny sides the surface turns wet or firn-like.

Tendency

No significant changes of the avalanche danger. The high pressure system will last till Tuesday.

Danger level

1800m

Persistent weak layer		1800m
Gliding snow		2500m 1200m

Favorable conditions. Moderate avalanche danger.

Avalanche danger is moderate. In some places there are weak layers inside the snowpack which can be triggered by large additional loading. Small-to-medium sized avalanches are thereby possible. On steep grassy slopes and hillsides, especially on sunny slopes but increasingly frequently on shady slopes, small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches are possible. Caution urged below glide cracks.

Snowpack

The large amounts of fresh fallen snow and drifts from the most recent bout of precipitation have been able to settle slightly and consolidate. On the shady slopes the snowpack is still loosely-packed, on the sunny slopes there is usually a breakable crust up to intermediate altitudes. Weak layers inside the old snowpack are in places prone to triggering by large additional loading. At high altitudes, isolated older mostly compact snowdrift accumulations are evident.

Tendency

Avalanche danger levels will continue to decrease. Especially glide-snow avalanches still possible.

Danger level

1800m

Persistent weak layer

1800m

Snowpack

Tendency

Danger level

Gliding snow

Circumvent zones below glide cracks

Avalanche danger is low. Gliding snow is the main problem. In some places or on rock plates, small glide-snow avalanches can release at any time of day or night.

Snowpack

The snow on sunny slopes and at low altitudes can form a melt-freeze crust at night which then softens during the daytime. Exposed ridges and crests are windblown, gullies, bowls and slopes near forest rims are filled with snow. The transported snow has settled in the interim. The entire snowpack can glide over grassy slopes and steep rock plates.

Tendency

Danger level

treeline

Persistent weak layer

Treeline

Avalanche danger is low. Some danger zones occur on extremely steep shady slopes. Apart from the danger of being buried in snow masses, the risks of being forced to take a fall require consideration. On steep grassy slopes where there is sufficient snow on the ground, small glide-snow avalanches are possible.

Snowpack

The large amounts of fresh fallen snow and drifts from the most recent bout of precipitation have been able to settle and consolidate. On shady slopes the snow is generally still loosely-packed, on sunny slopes a melt-freeze crust has formed. At high altitudes on shady slopes in particular, the uppermost layers of the snowpack are weak, making them often prone to triggering.

Tendency

Avalanche danger levels not expected to change significantly

Danger level

No distinct avalanche problem

Snowpack

Tendency

Danger level

Gliding snow

Beware injuries through unwelcome contact with the ground

Avalanche danger is low. Weak layers in the old snowpack can be a problem. Isolated small slab avalanches can trigger particularly by large additional loading. Danger zones occur especially in transitions from shallow to deep snow on shady ridgeline extremely steep slopes at high altitudes. Isolated glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally on steep grassy slopes at any time of day or night where there is sufficient snow on the ground.

Snowpack

Mild temperatures have helped the snowpack to settle and consolidate far-reachingly. Settled powder snow is to be found on shady slopes. At intermediate altitudes in some places there is a trigger-sensitive weak layer below a melt-freeze crust in the uppermost part of the snowpack which has persisted. On sunny slopes the snowpack moistens, then forms a breakable melt-freeze crust during the nocturnal hours. At low altitudes the snowpack is shallow and moist down to the ground. Gliding movements over smooth grass-covered slopes cannot be excluded.

Tendency

Avalanche danger levels will remain low

Danger level

1900m

Persistent weak layer

1900m

Low avalanche danger, only little snow.

Low Avalanche danger. A few danger spots due snow drift deposits in gullies and bowls. There small slab avalanches can be triggered by high additional loads.

Snowpack

In the southern and eastern Styrian mountains the snowcover is still thin. Exposed areas are mainly blown-off and bare or icy. In gullies and bowls the snow cover is a bit thicker. The snow base doesn’t have significant weak layers. In shady high slopes in places faceted snow forms weak layers within the old snow. In the past clear nights surface hoar has formed which stays only in shady areas. In sunny sides the surface turns wet or firn-like.

Tendency

No significant changes of the avalanche danger. The high pressure system will last till Tuesday.

Danger level

1800m

Persistent weak layer

1800m

Too little snow on the ground for winter sports widespread. Danger zones in gullies and bowls.

The snowdrift accumulations now blanket a weak old snowpack surface above 1800m on W/N/SE facing slopes: triggered by maximum additional loading. Gullies and bowls are unfavorable, since hard layers lie deposited atop weakly consolidated old snow. These danger zones occur rather seldom, and are easily recognized by practiced backcountry winter sports enthusiasts.
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

Snowdrift accumulations cover a weak old snowpack surface on shady slopes above 1800m. The old snowpack is weak, with faceted crystals.
Solar radiation and higher temperatures led to a gradual softening of the snowpack during the course of the day, particularly on sunny slopes.

Tendency

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.