Rising avalanche danger due to heavy winds and fresh-generating snowdrifts
Fresh and older snowdrift accumulations are often triggerable above the treeline on shady slopes by one sole skier and then possibly growing to medium size. Danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude, particularly on W/N/E facing slopes and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Activities in backcountry demand experience in avalanche danger assessment. 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
The fresh snow from Sunday is being transported far-reachingly at high altitudes, fresh snowdrift accumulations are being generated. Fresh snow and drifts are prone to triggering particularly on steep shady slopes where they lie deposited atop soft layers. On encrusted and moistened sunny slopes the fresh snow is better consolidated. All in all, the old snowpack is well consolidated. At lower altitudes the fresh snowfall often lies deposited on bare ground.
Tendency
Avalanche danger can increase further on Tuesday due to fresh snow and wind impact
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Avalanche danger above the timberline is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Snowdrifts can be triggered as slab avalanches by a single person engaged in wintersports. Avalanche prone locations are found on steep W-N-E facing slopes adjacent to and distant from ridgelines, as well as in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Releases are mostly small-sized. Dangers of being swept away and of taking a fall require attentiveness.
Snowpack
Snow is transported by southerly winds. In places, trigger-sensitive fresh drifts were deposited atop a loosely packed old snowpack surface or atop snowdrifts that accumulated on the previous day. Elsewhere, snowdrifts and old snowpack surface have bonded well. In western aspects at high altitudes with shallow snow there are locally still weak layers consisting of faceted (expansively metamorphosed) crystals. Elsewhere the snowpack is mostly stable and does not contain weak layers. South-facing slopes at intermediate altitudes are becoming bare again. All in all, there is little snow on the ground.
Tendency
Avalanche danger increases due to expected snowfalls.
Danger level
2400m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2400m
Caution: fresh snowdrifts
As a result of strong-to-stormy SW winds, often trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations are being generated during the course of the day in ridgeline terrain, in gullies and bowls and in general above 2400m. These drifts can often be triggered by one sole skier. Releases tend to be small-sized. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the danger of taking a fall and being swept along also require consideration.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
Only a small amount of fresh snow was registered. Accompanied by strong to storm-strength SW winds, fresh snowdrifts will accumulate further. Shady slopes: the drifts will be deposited atop weak layers. The snowpack is expansively metamorphosed, and is highly diverse even over small areas. There is only little snow on the ground.
Tendency
Increasing avalanche danger due to fresh snow and wind
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Main danger: fresh snowdrifts
As a result of strong-to-stormy SW winds, often trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations are being generated during the course of the day in ridgeline terrain, in gullies and bowls and in general above 2400m. These drifts can often be triggered by one sole skier. Releases tend to be small-sized. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the danger of taking a fall and being swept along also require consideration.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
Only a small amount of fresh snow was registered. Up to 10 cm of fresh snow is expected from place to place. Accompanied by strong to storm-strength SW winds, fresh snowdrifts will accumulate further. Shady slopes: the drifts will be deposited atop weak layers. The snowpack is expansively metamorphosed, and is highly diverse even over small areas. There is only little snow on the ground. Below 1600m there is hardly any snow on the ground regionally.
Tendency
Increasing avalanche danger due to fresh snow and wind
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Caution urged towards fresh drifts
Fresh snowdrift accumulations are often triggerable above the treeline on shady slopes by one sole skier, releases small-to-medium. Danger zones occur in steep ridgeline terrain, mostly on W/N/E facing slopes and behind protruberances in the landscape. The risks of being swept along and forced to take a fall outweigh those of being buried in snow masses. In isolated cases, small slab avalanches can be triggered on high-altitude extremely steep shady slopes, usually by large additional loading and where the snow is shallow.
Snowpack
The fresh snow from Sunday is being transported far-reachingly at high altitudes, fresh snowdrift accumulations are being generated. Fresh snow and drifts are prone to triggering particularly on steep shady slopes where they lie deposited atop soft layers. On encrusted and moistened sunny slopes the fresh snow is better consolidated. All in all, the old snowpack is well consolidated. At lower altitudes the fresh snowfall often lies deposited on bare ground.
Tendency
Avalanche danger can increase further on Tuesday due to fresh snow and wind impact
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Southerly foehn wind is depositing snowdrifts distant from ridgelines
Avalanche danger above the treeline is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Main danger stems from freshly generated snowdrift accumulations. Small slab avalanches can be triggered by one sole skiers in some places above the treeline. Danger zones occur also distant from ridgelines, near forest rims, behind protruberances and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls on W/N/E facing slopes. On shady steep slopes, fractures can in isolated cases penetrate down to more deeply embedded weak layers and the releases then grow to larger size. Caution urged in transitions from shallow to deep snow.
Snowpack
Fresh small snowdrift accumulations lie deposited on shady slopes atop an expansively metamorphosed snowpack surface. Apart from that the snowpack in wind-protected shady terrain is rewarding for skiers and boarders: expansively metamorphosed powder. From places to place there is surface hoar. In wind-exposed terrain the snowpack surface is highly varied.
Tendency
Increasing snowdrift problem due to fresh snow and wind
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Stormy and cloudy weather - 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. An area-wide, coesive snow base is only existing in blown-in gullies and bowls and shady high-altitude slopes. That snow cover is in moist and 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
Tuesday will be cloudy with snowfall down to 1.000 m. In the area of Turrach around 30 cm of new snow is expected. In the north andh east less new snow in the Triebener Tauern around 10 cm. Due to fresh snowdrift the avalanche danger rises a little bit.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Locally, snowdrifts accumulate also around the timberline.
Avalanche danger is low. Snowdrifts can be triggered as slab avalanches by a single person engaged in wintersports. Avalanche prone locations are found on steep W-N-E facing slopes adjacent to and distant from ridgelines, as well as in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Releases are small. Dangers of being swept away and of taking a fall require attentiveness.
Snowpack
Snow is transported by southerly winds. In places, isolated trigger-sensitive fresh drifts were deposited atop a loosely packed old snowpack surface or atop snowdrifts that accumulated on the previous day. Elsewhere, snowdrifts and old snowpack surface have bonded well. The snowpack is mostly stable and does not contain weak layers. South-facing slopes at intermediate altitudes are becoming bare again. All in all, there is little snow on the ground.
Tendency
Avalanche danger increases due to expected snowfalls.
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. Very little snow on the ground. Hardly any snow on the ground below 1600m regionally.
Tendency
No significant change expected in avalanche danger levels
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Snowpack
Tendency
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
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 treeline, 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
The few cm of fresh fallen snow is being transported, then deposited on shady slopes atop an expansively metamorphosed snowpack surface. Apart from that the snowpack in wind-protected shady terrain is rewarding for skiers and boarders: expansively metamorphosed powder. From places to place there is surface hoar. In wind-exposed terrain the snowpack surface is highly varied.
Tendency
Increasing snowdrift problem due to fresh snow and wind
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Low avalanche danger. Persistent weak layers in high altitudes.
The avalanche danger is in general low. Persistent weak layers above 1.800 m. Danger spots are usually located in shady northwesterly to southeasterly expositions, especially in entries to extremely steep gullies and bowls. Here medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered by high additional loads.
Snowpack
The snowcover is in general unusually thin considering the season. Only in blown-in gullies and bowls higher amounts of compact snow is found. On sunny slopes the snow cover is already moist even in high altitudes. On the surface hoar is forming. On shady slopes in medium and high altitudes a succession of soft layers built of faceted snow crystals and melt-freeze crust is found. The bonding is poor and the snow base is weak.
Tendency
Tuesday will be cloudy with snowfall down to 1.000 m. In the area of Turrach around 30 cm of new snow is expected. In the north andh east less new snow in the Mürzsteger Alps around 5 cm. Due to fresh snowdrift the avalanche danger rises a little bit.
Danger level
Isolated danger zones in gullies and bowls
Fresh and older snowdrift accumulations are generally small-sized, triggerable only in isolated cases, esp.on wind-protected shady slopes at high altitudes, esp. in transitions into gullies and bowls and at the foot of rocky cliffs and behind protruberances in the landscape. These danger zones occur seldom. 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
Only a small amount of fresh snow was registered. Accompanied by strong to storm-strength SW winds, fresh snowdrifts will accumulate further, the drifts will be deposited atop weak layers. The snowpack is expansively metamorphosed, and is highly diverse even over small areas. There is only little snow on the ground. Below 1600m there is hardly any snow on the ground regionally.
Tendency
Increasing avalanche danger due to fresh snow and wind
