Snowdrift accumulations which are prone to triggering have been generated particularly in gullies, bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape due to fresh snow and strong to storm-velocity winds. Snowdrifts can be triggered by one single skier and are expected to remain trigger-sensitive. Danger zones occur esp. on shady slopes above 2400m. Whumpf noises and glide cracks when you step onto the snowpack are indicators of danger. Avalanches can grow to medium size. Magnitude 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
As a result of strong winds, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations have been generated esp. in gullies, bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape. The older snowdrifts lie deposited atop soft layers particularly on NW/N/SE facing slopes above 2400m. The old snowpack is faceted, expansively metamorphosed, often weak. The snowpack is highly diverse even over small areas.
Tendency
Snowdrift accumulations to slowly stabilize over the next few days due to higher temperatures
Danger level
1600m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1600m
Persistent weak layer
1600m
Caution: fresh snowdrift! In the expositions east and south!
The avalanche danger above 1.600 m is moderate. Danger spots are especially fresh driftsnow accumulations in the sectors east and south. Behind ridgelines as well as in the beginning of gullies and bowls slab avalanches can be triggered by small additional loads. In some places avalanches can slab through low weak layers within the old snow and reach medium sizes. Strictly avoid fresh snowdrift!
Snowpack
Due to new snow, northwesterly and northeasterly winds, fresh snowdrift formed in the sectors east and south and this till the tree line and below. It is poorly bonded with the old snowcover and the snow base is increasingly unstable due to a succession of crusts and softer layers.
Tendency
From Tuesday on Styria gets influenced by a high pressure system, the wind weakens and the temperatures are rising. The avalanche situation doesn’t change significantly.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Small-sized snowdrifts require caution
Avalanche danger at high altitudes is moderate, danger below that altitude is low. In ridgeline terrain, in gullies and bowls, freshly generated snowdrift accumulations require caution. They are mostly small-sized, but poorly bonded with the old snowpack and thus, prone to triggering, small - in isolated cases medium-sized - avalanches can be triggered by one sole skier. Danger of glide-snow avalanches still persists, but diminished due to lower temperatures.
Snowpack
The lastest round of fresh snowfall has been deposited as loose-snow following the lower temperatures atop a well consolidated, often encrusted old snowpack surface. In high altitude ridgeline terrain it was often transported, thus generating small-area drifted masses. Only isolated small-sized avalanches are possible. Not much snow on the ground at low altitudes.
Tendency
Avalanche danger levels will continue to diminish
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Circumvent snowdrift accumulations
Avalanche danger above 2000m is MODERATE. Slabs, mostly small-sized, can be triggered even by minimum additiional loading both near to and distant from ridgelines and behind protruberances in the landscape on north, east and south facing slopes. If they fracture down to more deeply embedded layers in the snowpack the releases can grow to medium size. Isolated small-sized glide-snow and loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally.
Snowpack
On top of a shallow and relatively compact snow cover, less than40cm of snow and drifts (with embedded graupel) lie deposited. In wind-protected terrain the fresh snow is still very loosely-packed, winds have generated a bonded slab. The border to the old snowpack can serve as a weak layer, more deeply embedded weak layers are triggerable only in isolated cases.
Tendency
Avalanche danger levels gradually decreasing due to higher temperatures, snowdrift accumulations are stabilizing
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Caution: fresh snowdrift accumulations.
Snowdrift accumulations which are prone to triggering have been generated particularly in gullies, bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape due to fresh snow and strong to storm-velocity winds. Snowdrifts can be triggered by one single skier and are expected to remain trigger-sensitive. Danger zones occur esp. on shady slopes above 2400m. Avalanches are mostly small-sized. Magnitude and frequency of danger zones will tend to increase with ascending altitude. Be careful of the risks of being swept along and taking a fall.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
As a result of strong winds, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations have been generated esp. in gullies, bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape. The older snowdrifts lie deposited atop soft layers particularly on NW/N/SE facing slopes above 1800m. The old snowpack is faceted, expansively metamorphosed, often weak. The snowpack is highly diverse even over small areas, there is often little snow on the ground below 1600m.
Tendency
Snowdrift accumulations to slowly stabilize over the next few days due to higher temperatures
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Generally favorable conditions, moderate avalanche danger
Small-area fresh and older trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations are the main danger. 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. A cautious route selection is advised. Small-to-mediium glide-snow avalanches are possible only in isolated cases. Caution urged below glide cracks.
Snowpack
The lastest round of fresh snowfall has been deposited as loose-snow following the lower temperatures atop a well consolidated, often encrusted old snowpack surface, but fresh drifts tend to be often poorly bonded with the old snowpack surface with ascending altitude, sometimes will buried layers of graupel. More deeply embedded layers in the old snowpack are hardly prone to triggering. At most, where the snow is shallow and on very steep shady slopes.
Tendency
No significant change expected, caution urged towards high altitude snowdrifts
Avalanche danger above 2000m is MODERATE. Small-to-medium slab avalanches can be triggerd by minimum additional loading in places on north and east facing slopes, higher up also on south-facing slopes. The snowdrift accumulations are generally easy to recognize. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude. As of 2300m, releases can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack and grow to larger size. Small glide-snow and loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally.
Snowpack
The snow cover has below average depths, is highly irregular and the layering is rather poor. With ascending altitude, increasingly frequent crusts with immediately adjacent faceted crystals are evident, mostly triggerable by large additional loading. On the surface there is less than 40cm of snowdrift, poorly bonded with the old snowpack. Weak layers of fresh snow and at the borderline to the old snowpack are still prone to triggering in some places.
Tendency
Avalanche danger levels gradually decreasing due to higher temperatures, snowdrift accumulations are stabilizing
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Low avalanche danger - only isolated danger spots due to fresh snowdrift deposits.
The avalanche danger is low. Danger spots are fresh snowdrift deposits in some places. These are located in high entrances to gullies and bowls and behind terrain edges, especially in eastern and southern exposures. Small slab avalanches can be triggered here by even a low additional load.
Snowpack
In the extended eastern sector small fresh snowdrift deposits are formed in some places. At shady high altitudes and in blown-in gullies, a small unstable snow base in form of a succession of crusts and softer layers is present. At medium and lower altitudes as well as on sunny slopes, the snow base is missing.
Tendency
From Tuesday on Styria gets influenced by a high pressure system, the wind weakens and the temperatures are rising. The avalanche situation doesn’t change significantly.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
Little snow on the ground. Only isolated avalanche-prone locations.
Avalanches are hardly possible. Isolated danger zones occur on shady slopes and in gullies and bowls. Be careful of the risks of being swept along and taking a fall.
Snowpack
Strong winds are transporting the snow. Locally generally thin snowdrift accumulations will be generated. The drifts lie deposited ato a shallow old snowpack on shady slopes above 1800m. The old snowpack is expansively metamorphosed. There is only little snow on the ground.
Tendency
No change expected in avalanche danger levels
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Close to ridges isolated fresh small snowdrift accumulations can be prone to triggering.
Avalanche danger is low. Snowdrifts can be problematic. Fresh small snowdrift accumulations can be triggered as small slab avalanches by minimal additional loading. Isolated avalanche prone locations occur in particular in extremely steep ridgeline terrain in E-S-NW aspects. The risks of of being swept outweigh those of being buried in snow masses.
Snowpack
Close to ridges, northerly and easterly winds will generate small snowdrift accumulations which will, however, mostly bond well with the wind-impacted old snowpack surface. Wind-exposed east-facing crests and ridges are frequently heavily corniced. The old snowpack base is stable, at intermediate altitudes moist down to the ground. Terrain at intermediate altitudes which is exposed to wind and sun is often bare of snow or covered only by a few centimeters of snow.
Tendency
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Circumvent small-area snowdrift accumulations
Avalanche danger is LOW. Slabs, mostly small-sized, can trigger particularly on very steep and extremely steep north, east and south-facing slopes by minimum additional loading. Isolated small glide-snow and loose-snow avalanches can trigger naturally. Danger zones occur on very steep and extremely steep slopes, in entries into gullies and bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape.
Snowpack
On top of a shallow and relatively compact snow cover, less than 30cm of snow and drifts (with embedded graupel) lie deposited. The border to the old snowpack can serve as a weak layer, m deeply embedded layers are unlikely to trigger.
Tendency
Avalanche danger levels gradually decreasing due to higher temperatures, snowdrift accumulations are stabilizing
