Often favorable conditions but caution urged on shady steep high altitude slopes
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
1600m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1600m
Circumvent fresh snowdrifts
As a result of fresh snow and moderate-velocity winds from varying directions, mostly shallow snowdrift accumulations will be generated in ridgeline zones above all else during the night. These drifts can be easily triggered, especially on NW/N/NE facing slopes, or else glide away naturally. Releases will generally be small-sized.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
Particularly along the Slovenian border, 5-10 cm of fresh snowfall is anticipated, locally more. The fresh snowdrift accumulations will be deposited atop an unfavorable old snowpack surface above 1600m, particularly on NW/N/NE facing slopes. The old snowpack is expansively metamorphosed, full of faceted crystals. The snowpack is highly varied, even over small areas. There is too little snow on the ground at all altitudes for this juncture of the season.
Tendency
No significant change in avalanche danger le anticipated
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Avalanche danger is moderate. The fresh snowdrifts can trigger a small to medium-sized slab avalanche even by minimum additional loading in some places. Size and frequency of the avalanche prone locations tend to increase rapidly with ascending altitude above the treeline, but also steep forest clearances at low altitudes can be treacherous. Avalanches triggered near to the surface can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the old snowpack above 2200m. Danger zones occur particularly on N/E facing slopes above 2400m also on S/W facing slopes. Caution urged in transitions from shallow to deep snow. Especially below 2400m, naturally triggered small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches are possible. Circumvent zones below glide cracks.
Snowpack
Fresh snow and drifts are being deposited on shady slopes atop a loose, expansively metamorphosed snow base which can serves as a fracture surface. On sunny slopes, the bonding to the often encrusted old snowpack surface is somewhat more favorable. Above about 2200m inside the old snowpack there are weak layer of faceted crystals, often consisting of surface hoar, which are frequently prone to triggering. The entire snowpack can glide away over steep rocky plates or grass-covered slopes.
Tendency
Danger of slab avalanches in the freshly generated snowdrift accumulations. Small naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches in snow-bathed steep terrain.
Danger level
2400m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2400m
Wind slab
2400m
Circumvent fresh snowdrifts. Evaluate persistent weak layers with caution
As a result of fresh snow and moderate-velocity winds from varying directions, mostly shallow snowdrift accumulations will be generated during the night in ridgeline zones above all else. These drifts can be easily triggered, especially on NW/N/NE facing slopes, or else glide away naturally. Avalanches can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack and in isolated cases along t Salzburg border, reach medium size. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
Particularly along the Salzburg border, 5-10 cm of fresh snow is anticipated, locally more. The freshly generated snowdrift accumulations will be deposited atop an unfavorable old snowpack surface, particularly on NW/N/SE facing slopes above 2400m. The old snowpack is expansively metamorphosed, full of faceted crystals. The snowpack is highly varied, even over small areas. There is too little snow o the ground at all altitudes for this juncture of the season.
Tendency
No significant change in avalanche danger levels anticipated
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Avalanche danger levels are moderate. Freshly generated snowdrifts can be triggered as a small-to-medium sized slab avalanche in some places. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase rapidly with ascending altitude, but also forest clearances at low altitudes can be treacherous. Surface-near avalanches above 2200m can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers of the snowpack. Danger zones occur particularly on north and east-facing slopes, above 2400m also on south and west-facing slopes. Caution urged in transitions from shallow to deep snow. Naturally triggered small-to-medium sized glide-snow avalanches are possible. Circumvent zones below glide cracks.
Snowpack
Fresh snow and drifts are being deposited atop a loosely-packed, expansively metamorphosed snow base which can serve as a fracture surface. On sunny slopes the bonding to the often encrusted old snowpack surface is somewhat more favorable. Above about 2200m there are faceted crystals evident inside the old snowpack, often of surface hoar, which can frequently be prone to triggering. The entire snowpack can glide away over steep rocky places and grass-covered slopes.
Tendency
Danger of slab avalanches in the freshly generated snowdrifts. Small, naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches on sun-bathed steep slopes.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Avalanche danger levels are moderate. Freshly generated snowdrifts can be triggered as a small-to-medium sized slab avalanche in some places. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase rapidly with ascending altitude, but also forest clearances at low altitudes can be treacherous. Surface-near avalanches above 2200m can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers of the snowpack. Danger zones occur particularly on north and east-facing slopes, above 2400m also on south and west-facing slopes. Caution urged in transitions from shallow to deep snow. Naturally triggered small-to-medium sized glide-snow avalanches are possible. Circumvent zones below glide cracks.
Snowpack
Fresh snow and drifts are being deposited atop a loosely-packed, expansively metamorphosed snow base which can serve as a fracture surface or atop drifts which the southerly foehn wind deposited there on Thursday in gullies. On sunny slopes the bonding to the often encrusted old snowpack surface is somewhat more favorable. Above about 2200m there are faceted crystals evident inside the old snowpack, often of surface hoar, which can frequently be prone to triggering. The entire snowpack can glide away over steep rocky places and grass-covered slopes.
Tendency
Circumvent fresh snowdrifts. Small naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches in sun-bathed steep terrain.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Moderate avalanche danger above 1.900 m, below that: low avalanche danger. Danger spots are located in high shady slopes behind ridgelines and in the beginnig of gullies and bowls as well as steep slopes. Slab avalanches within the old snow can be triggered by small additional load and can reach medium sizes especially in transition areas from thin to thicker snow covers. on sunny slopes increasing danger of small spontaneous wet- or gliding snow avalanches. Avoid areas below glide cracks.
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
1900m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1900m
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layers in high altitudes!
Moderate avalanche danger above 1.900 m, below that: low avalanche danger. Danger spots are located in high shady slopes behind ridgelines and in the beginnig of gullies and bowls as well as steep slopes. Slab avalanches within the old snow can be triggered by small additional load and can reach medium sizes especially in transition areas from thin to thicker snow covers. on sunny slopes increasing danger of small spontaneous wet- or gliding snow avalanches. Avoid areas below glide cracks.
Snowpack
During the night surface hoar will form on sunny slopes with different amounts. It will soften during the course of the day. Summits are blown-off and icy or bare, gullies and bowls are filled with old snowdrift. In shady high altitudes the snow cover is weakened due to layers of faceted snow crystals and sometimes snown in Graupel within the old snowdrift accumulations. Surface hoar has formed especially in basins. In shady slopes the surface is built-up and loose. On smooth surfaces the snow cover can start gliding any time.
Tendency
New danger spots will form due to new snow, wind and snowdrift.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Wind slab
Treeline
Shallow snowdrifts blanket persistent weak layer
Avalanche danger levels at high altitudes is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. The freshly generated, shallow snowdrift accumulations can be triggered as a small-sized slab avalanche even by minimum additional loading (one skier). Such releases can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers of the snowpack above 2200m and then grow to medium size, particularly on W/N/S facing slopes. The shallow-snow transitions into snow-filled gullies and bowls are especially treacherous. Danger zones tend to increase in frequency with ascending altitude.
Too little snow on the ground for winter sports widespread. Danger zones in gullies and bowls.
The snowdrift accumulations on steep shady NE/N/NW facing slopes above 1800m can in isolated cases trigger an avalanche usually by large additional loading. Particularly unfavorable are gullies and bowls where hardened layers blanket weakly consolidated old snow. These danger zones occur rather seldom, and are generally 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
Snowdrift accumulations cover a weak old snowpack surface on shady slopes above 1800m. The old snowpack is weak, with faceted crystals. 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
No significant change in avalanche danger levels anticipated
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
1600m
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
1900m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1900m
Low avalanche danger, only little snow.
Low Avalanche danger. A few danger spots due snow drift deposits in high altitude gullies and bowls and steep areas. There small slab avalanches within the old snow can be triggered by high additional loads. Danger of being swept away or being buried! Hazards of falling is to be considered as well!
Snowpack
In the southern and eastern Styrian mountains only in shady high altitude slopes a snow cover is existing. Exposed areas are blown-off and bare or icy. In gullies and bowls snowdrift has accumulated. In shady high altitude slopes faceted snow crystal underneath old snowdrift accumulations can weaken the snow cover. Surface hoar has formed during the clear nights which lasts only in shady areas. In sunny areas the snow cover gets moist and soft.
Tendency
Some new danger spots are to expect depending on the amounts of new snow as well as snowdrift.
