Be careful of fresh snowdrifts. Weak layers in old snow demand caution.
Fresh snow fall and strong-velocity northerly winds will generate trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations during the course of the day particularly on E/SE/S facing slopes above 2400m along the Salzburg border. Weak layers inside the old snow can be triggered by one sole skier in all aspects, particularly in gullies, bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape along the Salzburg border. On shady slopes and in high alpine zones the likelihood of triggering is higher. Caution urged especially in seldom-skied terrain. Whumpf noises and glide-cracks when you step onto the snowpack are indicators of danger. Avalanches can reach medium size. Magnitude 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
As a result of strong winds, trigger-sensitive soft layers in all aspects above 2400m are now covered by newly formed drifts. Over the last few days temperatures have been very low, with clear nocturnal skies. These conditions have consolidated the weak layers. The snowpack is highly diverse even over small areas.
Tendency
As a result of fresh snow and NW winds, fresh snowdrifts are accumulating along the Salzburg border.
Danger level
1700m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1700m
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Persistent weak layer
2300m
Evaluate snowdrifts and persistent weak layer problem with great caution
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
On Wednesday, mostly cloudy skies, minor snowfall. Older drifts are settling only slowly.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Frequency of avalanche prone locations increases slightly due to new snow.
Avalanche danger above 2000m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Snowdrifts create problematic situations. Slab avalanches can be triggered even by the weight of one sole person. Avalanche prone locations occur in very steep ridgeline terrain in all aspects as well as in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. The releases will mostly be small-sized. The risks of being swept along outweigh those of being buried in snow masses.
Snowpack
Close to ridgelines, wind from varying directions and a bit of snow will generate trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations that will be deposited atop older snowdrifts or loose snow. Wind-exposed east-facing crests and ridges are frequently heavily corniced. In north-facing terrain there are soft layers underneath a melt-freeze crust in the uppermost part of the snowpack. The old snowpack base is stable, at intermediate altitudes slightly moist down to the ground.
Tendency
Snowdrifts are consolidating. Frequency of danger zones will decrease.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
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
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
1600m
Fresh snowdrift prone to triggering in the extended expositions east!
The avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate. Due to new snow and vivid northwesterly winds fresh driftsnow is formed in the extended eastern sectors eventually in forest areas. Danger spots especially 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 size
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
Wednesday will be predominantly cloudy in the mountains. Some new snow is to expect in the north. It will clear up in some places in the south. Strong northern winds and significantly cooler temperatures. Fresh snowdrift on surface hoar. Slightly short-Tim increasing avalanche danger.
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, snow and drifts lie deposited. Overnight, surface hoar can form. In wind-protected terrain the fresh snow is still very loosely-packed, winds have generated a bonded slab. The border to the old snowpack and loosely-packed snow inside the snowdrifts can serve as a weak layer, more deeply embedded weak layers are triggerable only in isolated cases.
Tendency
On Wednesday, mostly cloudy skies, minor snowfall. Older drifts are settling only slowly.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Weak layers in the old snow demand high caution
Weak layers in the old snow in all aspects can be triggered by one single skier and are expected to remain trigger-sensitive. Danger zones occur esp. in gullies and bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape above 1800m and at the foot of rocky cliffs. 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. Risks of being forced to take a fall or being swept along require consideration.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
As a result of strong winds, trigger-sensitive soft layers in all aspects above 1800m are now covered by newly formed drifts. Over the last few days temperatures have been very low, with clear nocturnal skies. These conditions have consolidated the weak layers. The snowpack is highly diverse even over small areas. There is very little snow on the ground below 1600m.
Tendency
No significant change in avalanche danger levels is expected
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. In risky terrain for falls, evaluate the drifts with caution, small-sized - avalanches can be triggered by one sole skier. Glide-snow avalanches still possible.
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. Not much snow on the ground at low altitudes.
Tendency
Avalanche danger levels will continue to diminish
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. Avoid zones below glide cracks.
Snowpack
On top of a shallow and relatively compact snow cover, snow and drifts (with embedded graupel) lie deposited. During the night, surface hoar can form. In wind-protected terrain, loose fresh snowfall still lies on the surface. The border to the old snowpack can serve as a weak layer, m deeply embedded layers are unlikely to trigger.
Tendency
On Wednesday, mostly cloudy skies, minor snowfall. Older drifts are settling only slowly.
Danger level
Little snow on the ground.
Older snowdrift accumulations can in isolated cases be triggered by large additional loading on shady slopes. Isolated danger zones occur on shady slopes and in gullies and bowls above 1800m.
Snowpack
Over the last few days small snowdrift accumulations have been generted on wind-protected slopes. These drifts lie deposited on shady slopes above 1900m atop a shallow old snowpack surface. This surface is expansively metamorphosed. There is little snow on the ground.
Tendency
No change expected in avalanche danger levels
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
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 the extended eastern exposures. Small slab avalanches can be triggered here by even a low additional loads. In case of triggered avalanches risk of injuries is more likely than risk of being buried.
Snowpack
Fresh snowdrift deposits settled either on a hard old snow cover or on bare soils. 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
Wednesday will be predominantly cloudy in the mountains. Some new snow is to expect in the north. It will clear up in some places in the south. Strong northern winds and significantly cooler temperatures. Fresh snowdrift on surface hoar. Slightly short-Tim increasing avalanche danger.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Small-scale snowdrifts are problematic.
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 N-E-S aspects. Dangers of being swept along and injured outweigh those of being buried in snow masses.
Snowpack
Westerly winds and a bit of snow will generate isolated trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations. The fresh drifts will be deposited atop older snowdrifts or loose snow. Wind-exposed east-facing crests and ridges are frequently heavily corniced. In north-facing terrain there are soft layers underneath a melt-freeze crust in the uppermost part of the snowpack. The old snowpack base is stable, moist down to the ground. Areas that have previously been bare are blanketed by only a few centimeters of snow.
