Trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations are threatening. The accumulations can be easily triggered even by one sole skier. Danger zones occur in wind-loaded steep terrain, in gullies and bowls, and behind protruberances in the landscape. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude. In addition, on steep shady slopes at high altitudes and in transitions from shallow to deep snow, isolated slab avalanches can be triggered by large additional loading. In zones where there has been rain impact, slides and small wet-snow avalanches are possible. Glide-snow avalanches, mostly small, continue to be possible. Caution urged below glide cracks.
Snowpack
Fresh snow and loosely-packed older snow will be transported widespread at high altitudes. Fresh and older, covered snowdrift accumulations are prone to triggering. The old snowpack is weakened up to high altitudes due to rainfall. Covered snowdrift accumulations and the old snowpack are generally compact and unlikely to trigger.
Tendency
Fresh snowdrift accumulations remain prone to trigger at high altitudes
Danger level
1900m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1900m
Wet snow
1600m
1200m
Rainfall up to 1800m, wet loose-snow avalanches expected
Snowdrift accumulations which are prone to triggering will be generated particularly in gullies, bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape due to fresh snow and strong-velocity winds. The freshly generated drifts can be triggered even by one sole skier. Isolated dry-snow avalanches also possible, esp. in the major areas of participation. Releases will be mostly small-sized, medium-sized in isolated cases. Size of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude. In addition, at 1200-1600m, wet loose-snow avalanches can be expected, small releases. Their runout zones should be circumvented.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.3: rain
Up to 1600m, above 1900m up to 15 cm of fresh snow is antitipated regionally, locally more, most between Hochstuhl and Koschuta. Often stormy winds will transport the fresh fallen snow. The fresh snowdrift accumulations will be deposited atop a weak old snowpack surface particularly on shady slopes and be poorly bonded to it. Further snowdrifts will accumulate during the course of the day above 1800m atop a weak snowpack. Rainfall is expected up to 1800m widespread, leading to widespread loss of firmness inside the snowpack.
Snowdrift accumulations which are prone to triggering will be generated particularly in gullies, bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape due to fresh snow and increasingly storm-velocity winds. Snowdrifts can be triggered by one single skier. Avalanches can in isolated cases trigger naturally at the foot of rock cliffs and grow to medium size esp in zones where snowfall has been heavy. They can also trigger in the weak layers in isolated cases and grow to medium size. Particularly unfavorable are shady slopes. Size and frequency of danger zones will tend to increase with ascending altitude.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
Often stormy winds will transport the fresh fallen snow. The fresh snowdrift accumulations will be deposited atop a weak old snowpack surface particularly on shady slopes and be poorly bonded to it. Further snowdrifts will accumulate during the course of the day above 2400m atop a weak snowpack esp. on NW/N/SE facing slopes. Fresh drifts will often lie atop weak layers. The snowpack is highly diverse even over small areas.
Tendency
Circumvent fresh snowdrifts
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Circumvent snowdrifts
Snowdrift accumulations which are prone to triggering will be generated particularly in gullies, bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape due to fresh snow and increasingly storm-velocity winds. Snowdrifts can be triggered by one single skier. Avalanches can in isolated cases trigger naturally at the foot of rock cliffs and grow to medium size esp in zones where snowfall has been heavy. They can also trigger in the weak layers in isolated cases and grow to medium size. Particularly unfavorable are shady slopes. Size and frequency of danger zones will tend to increase with ascending altitude.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
Up to 20 cm of fresh snow is expected above 1800m, locally more. Often storm-strength winds will transport the fresh fallen snow, in some places also the old snow. The fresh snowdrift accumulations will be poorly bonded with the old snowpack, deposited atop a weak old snowpack surface particularly above 1800m. The fresh drifts lie deposited atop an old snowpack which is expansively metamorphosed, weak and faceted. The snowpack is highly diverse even over small areas.
Tendency
Cirvumvent fresh snowdrifts
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
Wet snow
2200m
Older snowdrifts largely consolidated. Fresh high altitude drifts must be evaluated with caution.
Avalanche danger 2200m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: snowdrift accumulations. These can trigger a medium-sized avalanche by one sole skier/snowboarder. Avalanche prone locations occur in steep ridgeline terrain on N/E/SE facing slopes and in wind-loaded gulles and bowls. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude and during the course of the day. In addition, wet snow is a problem, it can trigger naturally on very steep slopes as a loose-snow avalanche. Possibility of medium-sized glide-snow avalanches on steep smooth grass-covered slopes in all aspects, releases mostly small, but occasionally medium-sized.
Snowpack
Rainfall has superficially moistened the snowpack up to over 2000m. Dry snow can be found only at higher altitudes. It has been transported by southerly and westerly winds. Inside the snowdrifts there are trigger-sensitive layers. Older drifts at intermediate altitudes have now consolidated. The snowpack is moistened widespread and is forfeiting its firmness. The snowpack base is moist-to-wet down to the ground. Gliding movements are possible.
Tendency
Snowfall will set in during early afternoon hours. Towards evening, avalanche danger levels will increase again.
Danger level
1200m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
1200m
Wet-snow avalanches due to rain impact and higher temperatures
Where there was rain impactd, slides and small wet-snow avalanches are possible. Small, in isolated cases medium-sized glide-snow avalanches are possible. Caution below glide crdacks. At lower altitudes there is hardly any snow on the ground, danger is low.
Snowpack
Snowpack weakened up to high altitudfes due to higher temperatures and rain impact. Older covered drifts are generally compact, unlikely to trigger. Wet slides and glide-snow avalanches continue to be possible.
Tendency
Avalanche danger levels to increase somewhat on Friday due to fresh snowfall
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Wet snow
2000m
Fresh snowdrifts prone to triggering
Avalanche danger 2000m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Main problem: snowdrift accumulations. These can trigger a medium-sized avalanche by one sole skier/snowboarder. Avalanche prone locations occur in steep shady terrain on N/E/SE facing slopes and in wind-loaded gulles and bowls, medium-sized releases possible. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude and during the course of the day. In addition, wet snow is a problem, it can trigger naturally on very steep slopes as a loose-snow avalanche on smooth grassy slopes and over rock plates. Possibility of medium-sized glide-snow avalanches on steep smooth grass-covered slopes in all aspects, releases mostly small-sized.
Snowpack
The snowpack is mostly dry at high altitudes. Fresh snowdrifts are accumulating from southerly and westerly winds. Weak layers are evident inside the old snowpack, older drifts have largely consolidated. The snowpack base is moist-to-wet down to the ground and is forfeiting its firmness. Gliding snow is possible.
Tendency
Avalanache danger will increase somewhat due to forecast snowfall
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Caution: fresh snowdrift accumulations.
Due to fresh snwofall and moderate velocity winds, snowdrift accumulations which are prone to triggering will be generated particularly in gullies, bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape due to fresh snow and storm-velocity SW winds. The freshly generated drifts can be triggered even by one sole skier. Particularly unfavorable are shady slopes where there are weak layers inside the old snowpack. Releases will be mostly small-sized, medium-sized in isolated cases. Size of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude. Caution: be attentive to risks of being swept along and being forced to take a fall.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
Snowdrift accumulations which are prone to triggering will be generated particularly in gullies, bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape due to fresh snow and increasingly storm-velocity winds. Snowdrifts can be triggered by one single skier. Avalanches can in isolated cases trigger naturally at the foot of rock cliffs and grow to medium size esp in zones where snowfall has been heavy. They can also trigger in the weak layers in isolated cases and grow to medium size. Particularly unfavorable are shady slopes. Size and frequency of danger zones will tend to increase with ascending altitude.
Tendency
Caution: fresh snowdrifts
Danger level
1900m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1900m
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Beware of wind-drifted snow at high altitudes.
The avalanche danger is assessed as moderate above the tree line. Attention must be paid to the drift snow and persistent weak layers. The danger spots are in the north and east sectors. It cannot be completely ruled out that a slab avalanche can be triggered by a small additional load. In some areas, avalanches can tear through layers of old snow close to the ground and become medium-sized.
Snowpack
Between 5 and 20 cm of fresh snow has fallen since Tuesday. The greatest amount of fresh snow was in the Totes Gebirge. The snow initially fell with light winds. On Thursday strong south-westerly winds will bring snow to the northern and eastern sectors. The fresh snow has mostly covered an icy layer at high altitudes or snowed over the meadow again. Below the layer of fresh snow, there is still a more or less continuous snow cover only at high altitudes and on the shady slopes. The old snow cover is weakened in places by faceted snow crystals.
Tendency
On Friday, icy polar air will penetrate Austria behind a cold front, leading to a significant drop in temperature on the mountains. It will be accompanied by a little snowfall and a stormy north-westerly wind in the Nordstau. The risk of avalanches increases slightly.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Little snow on the ground, low avalanche danger
Avalanche danger levels are low. Mostly wet slides and, where snow is sufficient, small glide-snow avalanches are possible. Caution urged below glide cracks.
Snowpack
Hardly any fresh snow. At lower altitudes the shallow drifts have dissolved, the snowpack has been weakened by rain impact. Glide-snow avalanches still possible.
Tendency
A bit of snowfall, dropping temperatures. No immediate effect on avalanche danger levels.o
Danger level
1900m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1900m
Low avalanche danger - only isolated danger spots due to fresh drift snow.
The avalanche danger is low. There are isolated danger spots. These are located in high, shady, very steep entrances to gullies and bowls, especially in northern and eastern exposures. Small slab avalanches can be triggered here in wind drifted snow by even a low additional load. In addition to the danger of burying, the risk of being swept away and falling should also be taken into account.
Snowpack
Between 5 and 20 cm of fresh snow has fallen since Tuesday. The snow initially fell with light winds. On Thursday strong south-westerly winds will bring snow to the northern and eastern sectors. The fresh snow has mostly covered an icy layer at high altitudes or snowed over the meadow again. Below the layer of fresh snow, there is still a more or less continuous snow cover only at high altitudes and on the shady slopes. The old snow cover is weakened in places by faceted snow crystals.
Tendency
On Friday, icy polar air will penetrate Austria behind a cold front, leading to a significant drop in temperature on the mountains. It will be accompanied by a little snowfall and a stormy north-westerly wind in the Nordstau. As only a little fresh snow is expected in the south, the avalanche risk will only increase slightly.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Loose-snow avalanches more possible in regions where snowfall was heavy
Avalanche danger is low. Main problem: wet snow, which can release naturally as a loose-snow avalanche or by minimum additional loading. On smooth steep grassy slopes, isolated small glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally. In isolated cases, snowdrifts can be a problem. Isolated danger zones occur in steep terrain of the hights summit and ridgeline regions on N/E/SE facing slopes. Avalanches can trigger generally by large additional loading, releases remain mostly small-sized.
Snowpack
The snowpack is superficially moist, depending on the intensity of rainfall, and it is forfeiting firmness. Fresh snowdrifts are prone to triggering only over small areas. The snowpack layering is increasingly collapsing. The snowpack base is moist-to-wet down to the ground. Gliding snow is possible.
