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. Danger zones are difficult to recognize when blanketed with fresh snow. In isolated cases, small slab avalanches can be triggered on high-altitude extremely steep shady slopes also in the old snow, usually by large additional loading and where the snow is shallow.
Snowpack
Only a few cm of fresh snowfall. Fresh and older snowdrift accumulations lie deposited esp. on steep shady slopes atop soft layers and are often prone to triggering. The uppermost layers are often still powdery (with the exception of wind-impacted zones), frequently encrusted on south-facing slopes. Also wind-crusts are evident. All in all, the snowpack is predominantly well consolidated.
Tendency
Caution: small snowdrifts
Danger level
Isolated danger zones in gullies and bowls
Older and fresher 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
Older and fresh snowdrifts blanket a weak old snowpack, esp. on wind-protected shady slopes. Clear nighttime skies are forecast, with low temperatures and low air moisture. Thus, The snowpack is expansively metamorphosed. The snowpack is highly diverse even over small areas. Below 1600m very little snow on the ground. Hardly any snow on the ground regionally.
Tendency
No significant change in avalanche danger levels expected
Danger level
Be careful of snowdrifts.
Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations are small-sized yet still often prone to triggering, particularly in gullies and bowls above 2400m along the Salzburg border. Avalanches can in isolated cases fracture down to more deeply embedded layers in the old snopwack. 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 is in general low. Only a few, but hard to spot danger areas in high altitudes (persistent weak layers).
The avalanche danger is in general low. Persistent weak layers above 1.800 m. Danger spots are usually located in shady northwesterly to easterly expositions, especially in entries to extremely steep gullies and bowls. Here medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered by high additional loads.
Snowpack
Due to mild sunny weather the snow cover got wet in sunny high-altitude slopes. During the night surface hoar is formed there and partially firn-like snow. On shady slopes the snow cover is built by faceted snow crystals and the layers are poorly bonded. On the surface a powdery snow layer can be found, underneath that weak layers are forming which are destabilizing the snow base. The snow cover is in general unusually thin, considering the season. Only in blown-in gullies and bowls compact snow packs with a higher amount of snow are found.
Tendency
The avalanche danger stays low.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Snowpack
Tendency
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 surfaces, partially powder snow, and faceted snow crystals with melt-freeze crusts.
Tendency
The avalanche danger stays small.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Favorable conditions. Caution urged towards small drifts at high altitudes.
Avalanche danger is low. Fresh drifts can trigger small slab avalanches even by minimum additional loading in some places. Danger zones occur in steep ridgeline terrain, mostly on W/N/E facing slopes and behind protruberances in the landscape. Danger of being swept along and forced to take a fall outweigh that of being buried in snow masses. In very isolated cases, small slab avalanches can trigger in the old snow on steep shady high-altitude slopes, generally by large additional loading and where the snow is shallow.
Snowpack
The minor amount of fresh snow was transported. Small snowdrift accumulations lie deposited esp. on steep shady slopes atop soft layers and are often prone to triggering. The uppermost layers are often still powdery (with the exception of wind-impacted zones), frequently encrusted on south-facing slopes. Also wind-crusts are evident. All in all, the snowpack is predominantly well consolidated.
Tendency
No significant change anticipated in avalanche danger levels
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Snowdrift accumulations esp. on steep shady slopes and atop weak old layers
Avalanche danger is low, the major danger stems from snowdrifts. Particularly on very steep shady slopes above the timberline, slab avalanches can be triggered in isolated cases by minimum additional loading. Danger zones occur also distant from ridges, behind protruberances and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls, particularly on W/N/E facing slopes. On steep shady slopes, fractures down to more deeply embedded layers are possible, thus making avalanches grow larger. Caution urged in transitions from shallow to deeper snow. Isolated naturally triggered glide-snow and loose-snow avalanches are possible at any time of day or night.
Snowpack
Often hardened snowdrift masses have been deposited on shady slopes atop an explansively metamorphosed surface over the last few days. On shady slopes, small fresh snowdrift patches are being generated. 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. Due to mild temperatures the snowpack often softens during the daytime hours.
Tendency
No significant change in avalanche danger levels anticipated
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Circumvent small snowdrifts, esp. at high altitudes
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
On high-alttiude shady slopes, shallow snowdrifts lie deposited atop loose layers on shady slopes and are prone to triggering. Elsewhere the snowpack is stable by and large, only isolated intermediate layers of expansively metamorphosed crystals inside the old snowpack are prone to triggering, fracture propagation is unlikely. Due to mild temperatures the snowpack becomes moist during the daytime and forfeits its firmness. On south facing slopes the ground is already bare at intermediate altitudes. 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. Below 1600m very little snow on the ground. Hardly any snow on the ground regionally.
Tendency
No significant change expected in avalanche danger levels
Danger level
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Danger of taking a fall outweighs that of being buried in snow
Avalanche danger is low, the major danger stems from snowdrifts. 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 have been deposited on shady slopes atop an explansively metamorphosed surface over the last few days. On shady slopes, small fresh snowdrift patches are being generated. 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. Due to mild temperatures the snowpack soften up during the daytime hours.
Tendency
No significant change in avalanche danger levels anticipated
