Danger level
 | 2000m |
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Danger level
| 2000m |
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Evaluate snowdrifts and persistent weak layer problem with great caution
Avalanche danger above 2000m is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is low. In all aspects, small-to-medium slab avalanches can be triggerd by minimum additional loading in places. Danger zones occur mostly near ridgelines and behind protruberances in the landscape. 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. Avalanche danger above 2000m is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is low. 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, northwest and south facing slopes. If they fracture down to more deeply embedded layers in the snowpack the releases can grow to medium size. Isolated glide-snow avalanches reaching medium size are possible at any time of day or night.
Snowpack
Fresh and older snowdrift masses lie atop an expansively metamorphosed, loosely-packed snowpack surface with near-surface faceted crystals. Particularly in shady, shallow-snow zones there is snow which is rewarding to skiers, it is faceted, expansively metamorphosed powder which is settling increasingly with rising temperatures.
Tendency
Southerly winds are generating fresh, often trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations
Danger level
| treeline |
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In shady slopes the driftsnow is partially prone to triggering!
The avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate. Due to new snow and brisk 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 high-altitude entries 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
The snow base is in places unstable due to a succession of crusts and softer layers. On top of that is a loose snow layer. This cold and loose snow was drifted. Fresh snowdrift accumaltions have formed due to northwesterly partially stormy winds. On sunny slopes the snow has has settled, on shady slopes the settling process is delayed. There loose powder snows presen. Above the treeline are driftsnow accumulations which are prone to triggering and poorly bonded with the layer below.
Tendency
Decreasing wind slab problems e to warming
Danger level
| 2400m |
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Be careful of fresh snowdrifts. Weak layers in old snow demand caution.
Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations are small-sized yet still often prone to triggering, particularly 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
Up to 5-10 cm of fresh snow was registered, the snowpack is expansively metamorphosed, the freshly generated snowdrift accumulations above 2400m were deposited atop an unfavorable old snowpack surface by easterly winds. The older snowdrifts blanket a weak layer particularly on shady slopes above 2400m. The snowpack is highly diverse even over small areas.
Tendency
Gradual decrease in avalanche danger
Danger level
| 1800m |
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Caution: weak layers in the old snowpack
Weak layers in the old snowpack can in isolated cases on shady slopes be triggered even by one sole skier. Caution urged esp. in transitions into gullies and bowls above 1800m and at the foot of rocky cliffs and behind protruberances in the landscape. Avalanches are mostly small-sized. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the dangers of being swept along and forced to take a fall need to be taken into condideration.
Snowpack
The snowpack is expansively metamorphosed, with a loosely-packed surface with surface hoar and faceted crystals. Old snowdrift accumulations now blanket a weak old snowpack on wind-protected shady slopes. The snowpack is highly diverse even over small areas. Below 1600m there is too little snow on the ground.
Tendency
Gradual decrease in avalanche danger
Danger level
| 2200m |
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Generally favorable conditions, low-to-moderate avalanche danger
Small-area avalanche prone locations in the form of fresh and older snowdrift accumulations, esp. in wind-loaded steep terrain, in gullies and bowls, and behind protruberances in the landscape. These tend to increase with ascending altitude. In addition, on steep shady slopes at high altitudes where the snow is shallow and in transitions from shallow to deep snow, slab avalanches can be triggered. A cautious route selection is imperative. At lower altitudes, isolated small avalanches are possibly triggered in extremely steep terrain. Naturally triggered small loose-snow avalanches are possible on extremely steep sunny slopes.
Snowpack
Amid mild temperatures, the snowpack is settling and stabilizing to an increasing extent. The uppermost snowpack layers are generally still loose (except in wind-impacted terrain). In high-altitude wind-impacted zones and ridgelines, small fresh snowdrift accumulations have been generated. Some older drifts are now blanketed and layers of graupel embedded. More deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack are unlikely to trigger, at most where the snow is shallow and on very steep shady slopes.
Tendency
Favorable avalanche situation will continue for the most part
Danger level
| 2200m |
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Snowdrift accumulations prone to triggering in places
Avalanche danger above 2200m is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is low. 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 southwest to north to east-facing slopes. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude If they fracture down to more deeply embedded layers in the snowpack the releases can grow to medium size. On extremely steep sunny slopes, small loose-snow avalanches are possible.
Snowpack
Fresh and older snowdrift masses lie atop a thin rain crust above 2200-2400m, on steep sunny slopes atop a melt-freeze crust which is only partially capably of bearing loads. Near the crusts are weak layers of faceted, expansively metamorphosed crystals. 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. Particularly in wind-protected zones there is snow which is rewarding to skiers, it is faceted, expansively metamorphosed powder which is settling increasingly with rising temperatures.
Tendency
Snowdrift problem is receding
Danger level
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Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
| 1800m |
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Isolated danger zones in gullies and bowls
Weak layers in the old snowpack can in isolated cases on shady slopes be triggered, esp. in gullies and bowls. Avalanche releases are mostly small-sized. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the danger of being swept along and forced to take a fall require consideration.
Snowpack
dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
The snowpack is expansively metamorphosed The older snowdrifts blanket a weak layer particularly on shady slopes above 1800m. The snowpack is highly diverse even over small areas. Only little snow on the ground from region to region below 1600m.
Tendency
No significant change in avalanche danger levels is expected
Danger level
| 1600m |
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Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
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Circumvent small-area snowdrift accumulations
Avalanche danger is low. Slabs, mostly small-sized, can trigger particularly on very steep and extremely steep north, northwest 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. On extremely steep sunny slopes, small loose-snow avalanches are possible at any time of day or night.
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. Particularly in wind-protected zones there is snow which is rewarding to skiers, it is faceted, expansively metamorphosed powder which is settling increasingly with rising temperatures.
Tendency
No significant change anticipated
Danger level
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Little snow on the ground.
Avalanches are hardly possible in gullies and bowls. Only little snow is on the ground.
Snowpack
The old snowpack is expansively metamorphosed, with a loosely-packed surface with surface hoar and faceted crystals
Tendency
No significant change expected in avalanche danger levels
Danger level
| treeline |
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Only isolated danger spots due to snowdrift.
The avalanche danger is low. In some danger spots slab avalanches within the driftsnow can be triggered by small additional loads. These are in general small. Danger spots are located in in shady slopes and steep areas adjacent to ridgelines, in high-altitude entries into gullies and bowls and behind terrain edges. In case of triggered avalanches risk of injuries is more likely than risk of being buried.
Snowpack
Loose snow which is able to being drifted on the surface accumulates due to brisk northwesterly winds as fresh snowdrift especially in the extended eastern sectors and is only poorly bonded with the hard old snow. In medium and low altitudes especially on sunny slopes an area-wide cohesive snow base is missing.
Tendency
Avalanche danger is decreasing due to warming
Danger level
| 2200m |
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Isolated danger zones in gullies and bowls
Weak layers in the old snowpack can in isolated cases on shady slopes be triggered, esp. in gullies and bowls. Avalanche releases are mostly small-sized. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the danger of being swept along and forced to take a fall require consideration.
Snowpack
The snowpack is expansively metamorphosed The older snowdrifts blanket a weak layer particularly on shady slopes above 1800m. The snowpack is highly diverse even over small areas. Only little snow on the ground from region to region below 1600m.
Tendency
No change expected in avalanche danger levels
Danger level
| 2000m |
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Favorable conditions. Caution: small-area snowdrift accumulations
Avalanche danger 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. Danger zones tend to increase in frequency with ascending altitude, need to be evaluated with caution. Naturally-triggered small loose-snow avalanches possible on extremely steep sunny slopes.
Snowpack
Amid mild temperatures, the snowpack is settling and stabilizing to an increasing extent. The uppermost snowpack layers are generally still loose (except in wind-impacted terrain) and lie atop a well consolidated and often encrusted old snowpack . In high-altitude wind-impacted zones and ridgelines, small fresh snowdrift accumulations have been generated. Some older drifts are now blanketed and layers of graupel embedded. Not much snow on the ground at low altitudes.
Tendency
Avalanche danger levels will continue to be favorable
Danger level
| 2000m |
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Danger of falls on encrusted surfaces
Avalanche danger is low. Locally, weak layers in the old snowpack can be problematic. Small slab avalanches can be triggered in particular in places with little snow by large additional loading. Isolated avalanche prone locations occur in extremely steep ridgeline terrain in W/N/E aspects as well as at entries into gullies and bowls. Dangers of being swept away and of taking a fall outweigh those of being buried in snow masses.
Snowpack
Due to mild temperatures the snowpack will settle and stabilize increasingly. There is little snow in south aspects which is mostly encrusted and hard frozen in the morning before softening during the course of the day. In wind-exposed areas, the snowpack surface is wind-compacted. At high altitudes in the Berchtesgaden Alpes intensifying easterly winds will locally generate shallow snowdrift accumulations. On shady side slopes at higher altitude there is still loose snow on a stable old snow base. In some places at high altitude, trigger-sensitive intermediate layers persist in the uppermost part of the snowpack. Fracture propagation over wide-spread areas is not likely.
Tendency
Avalanche danger levels will remain low.