Small-area avalanche prone locations in the form of snowdrift accumulations, esp. in wind-loaded steep terrain, in gullies and bowls, and behind protruberances in the landscape, on shady slopes often triggerable above the treeline by one sole skier and then possibly growing to medium size. However, the danger zones are easy to recognize for the practiced eye, thus, should be circumvented. In high-alpine regions the danger zones occur more frequently and the risks are greater. 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
Fresh snowdrift accumulations have bee deposited on shady steep slopes atop weak layers and are prone to triggering. The near-surface layers are still generally loosely-packed, except where winds have had their effect. There are lots of wind crusts and, on south-facing slopes, a shallow surface crust. More deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack are unlikely to trigger, at most where the snow is shallow and on very steep shady slopes. Particularly in sunny aspects, glide cracks are opening again on steep grassy slopes.
Snowdrift accumulations esp. on steep shady slopes and atop weak old layers
Avalanche 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, esp. on W/N/NE facing slopes, caution also urged near treelines and in forest clearances. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude. Above 2000m, 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. 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. Caution in transition from shallow to deep snow. If fractures occur 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
Often hardened snowdrift masses lie atop an expansively metamorphosed, loosely-packed snowpack surface with near-surface faceted crystals. Near surface crusts are weak layers of faceted, expansively metamorphosed 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. In wind-exposed terrain the snowpack surface on steep sunny slopes is generating foehn conditions.
Tendency
No significant change in avalanche danger levels anticipated
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Caution urged towards the risks of taking a fall
Avalanche danger is low. Locally, weak layers in the old snowpack can be problematic. Small slab avalanches can be triggered in isolated cases by large additional loading, which happens more likely in places with little snow. 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
The snowpack is stable by and large. At high altitudes, foehn winds have generated shallow snowdrifts on north-facing slopes. In addition, trigger-sensitive intermediate layers in the uppermost part of the snowpack have persisted. Fracture propagation is unlikely. On south-facing slopes there is little snow on the ground, mostly encrusted in the morning hours before softening up later on. In wind-exposed terrain the surface is wind-pressed, on shady slopes with little wind there is still loosely-packed snow. All in all, there is little snow on the ground.
Tendency
Avalanche danger levels will remain low.
Danger level
Little snow on the ground.
Avalanches are hardly possible in gullies and bowls.
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
Be careful of snowdrifts.
Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations are small-sized yet still often prone to triggering, particularly in gullies and bowls along the Salzburg border, such danger zones are easy to recognize. Avalanches can in isolated cases fracture down to more deeply embedded layers in the old snopwack and then grow to medium size. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the danger of taking a fall and being swept along also require consideration.
Snowpack
Freshly generated and older snowdrift accumulations lie deposited particularly above 2400m were depositedon W/N/E facing slopes. More deeply embedded inside the old snowpack are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers, esp. on shady wind-protected slopes. Clear skies are forecast, with low temperatures and low air moisture. Thus, the snowpack will expansively metamorphose during the nocturnal hours. The snowpack is highly diverse even over small areas. There is little snow on the ground.
Tendency
No significant change anticiated in avalanche danger
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Avalanche danger low, very little snow.
The avalanche danger is low. Only in some places in high altitudes an extremely steep and shady gullies and bowls small slab avalanches are possible. In case of triggered avalanches risk of injuries is more likely than risk of being buried.
Snowpack
The snow cover is unusual thin for this season and southern slopes as well as exposed areas are predominatly bare or icy. An area-wide, coesive snow base is only existing in blown-in gullies and bowls and shady high-altitude slopes. That snow cover is charactized by equilibrium (isothermal) metamorphosis. It is succession of soft layers on the surfacs, partially powder snow, and faceted snow crystals with melt-freeze crusts.
Tendency
The avalanche danger stays small.
Danger level
Isolated danger zones in gullies and bowls
Older snowdrift accumulations are generally small-sized, triggerable only in isolated cases, esp.on wind-protected shady slopes above 2000m, esp. in transitions into gullies and bowls and at the foot of rocky cliffs and behind protruberances in the landscape. 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 older snowdrifts blanket a weak old snowpack. The snowpack is highly diverse even over small areas. Only little snow on the ground from region to region below 1600m. Clear nighttime skies are forecast, with low temperatures and low air moisture. Thus, the snowpack will expansively metamorphose during the nocturnal hours. The snowpack is highly diverse even over small areas. Below 1600m very little snow on the ground.
Tendency
No significant change in avalanche danger levels expected
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Snowdrifts at high altitudes still prone to triggering in places
Particularly in ridgeline zones and in very steep gullies and bowls, small-area freshly generated snowdrift accumulations are evident, mostly small sized but prone to triggering. Esp. on shady high-altitude slopes they can be triggered even by one sole skier. Danger zones tend to increase in frequency with ascending altitude, evaluate these with high caution wherever falls are possible. Naturally triggered small loose-snow avalanches are naturally triggerable on extremely steep sunny slopes.
Snowpack
Fresh snowdrift accumulations, lie deposited on shady steep slopes atop weak layers and are prone to triggering. Elsewhere, the snowpack is stabilizing. The near-surface layers are still generally loosely-packed, except where winds have had their effect. There are lots of wind crusts and, on south-facing slopes, a shallow surface crust. More deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack are unlikely to trigger, at most where the snow is shallow and on very steep shady slopes. Particularly in sunny aspects, glide cracks are opening again on steep grassy slopes.
Tendency
No significant change anticipated in avalanche danger levels
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Avalanche danger is in general low. Only a few but hard to spot danger spots in high altitudes (persistent weak layers).
The avalanche danger is in general low. Persistent weak layers above 1.800 m. Danger spots are usually in shady northwesterly to easterly expositions, especially in entries extremely steep gullies and bowls. Here slab avalanches can triggered by high additional loads. These avalanches are predominantly small but can reach medium sizes.
Snowpack
Due to mild sunny weather the snow cover got soft in sunny high-altitude slopes. On shady slopes faceted snow layers between melt crusts are weakening the snow base. The snowcover is unusually thin for the season. Only in blown-in gullies and bowls compact snow covers with higher amounts of snow are found.
Tendency
The avalanche danger stays low.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Danger of taking a fall outweighs that of being buried in snow
Avalanche danger is low. Particularly on very steep shady slopes above the timberline, slab avalanches can be triggered in isolated cases by minimum additional loading. Releases are mostly small-sized. Apart from th danger of being buried in snow masses, the risks of being swept along and forced to take a fall need to be taken into consideration.
Snowpack
Often hardened snowdrift masses lie deposited on shady slopes atop an explansively metamorphosed surface. In wind-protected shady terrain, the surface is often rewarding for skiers, faceted, expansively metamorphosed power. In wind-exposed terrain the surface is highly varied, foehn conditions are being generated on steep sunny slopes.
Tendency
No significant change in avalanche danger levels anticipated
