Slight increase in avalanche danger due to fresh snowfall
Fresh snowfall and small fresh snowdrifts are increasingly prone to triggering with ascending altitude. Avalanche prone locations occur in ridgeline terrain and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Small triggerings are possible by winter sports enthusiasts, In isolated cases, small glide-snow avalanches are also possible. Esp. in the Silvretta above 2600m by large additional loading, small-to-medium avalanches can be triggered in the old snow. Such danger zones occur in seldom-tracked, shady backcountry touring areas and are difficult to recognize.
Snowpack
Another 10-15cm of fresh snow at high alttitudes. Amid intermittently moderate-velocity winds, small snowdrift accumulations will be generated anew in ridgeline terrain. The old snowpack is thoroughly wet up to high altitudes. In the Silvretta in particular, very steep shaday slopes often have unfavorable intermediate layers inside the snowpack. Very little information from outlying terrain is available to the Avalanche Warning Service.
Tendency
Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly. Due to higher daytime temperatures and solar radiation, increasingly frequent loose snow slides and small avalanches will be possible.
Danger level
2600m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
2600m
Wind slab
2600m
Avalanche prone locations along the Salzburg border
Danger of wet-snow avalanches exists already in the early morning. Due to rainfall below 2600m, isolated mostly small wet-snow avalanches are possible, esp. alng the Salzburg border. Due to fresh snow and moderate-velocity winds, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations will be generated over the course of the day which can be triggered by one sole skier, but will be mostly small-sized releases. Caution urged in gullies and bowls and behind protruberances in the terrain along the Salzburg border.Danger zones occur above 2600m. Isolated danger zones occur also on sunny slopes in high-alpine zones.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.10: springtime scenario
Above 2200m, 10cm of fresh snow was registered. During the night, up to 15cm of additional snowfall is anticipated above 2200m. Due to fresh snow and moderate-to-strong northerly winds, small snowdrift accumulations have been generated, they lie deposited on shady slopes near ridgelines above 2600m atop soft layers. Below 2600m: the old snowpack is wet. The surface can hardly freeze at night and rapidly softens in morning, esp. along the Salzburg border following a night of overcast skies. Below 2200m hardly any snow on the ground.
Tendency
Little change expected
Danger level
2600m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
2600m
Wind slab
2600m
Slightly heightened wet-snow activity in the course of the day
Avalanche danger below 2600m is moderate. Below 2600m, small-sized wet avalanches can trigger naturally at any time of day or night or else be triggered by persons, esp. as of midday when diffuse light conditions prevail, then a slight rise in avalanche activity can be expected. Also isolated small-to-medium sized glide-snow avalanches are possible. Above 2600m, small dry-snow slab avalanches can be triggered by one sole skier in isolated cases, particularly on steep wind-loaded slopes and in shady gullies and bowls.
Snowpack
There has been 10-30cm of somewhat wind-impacted fresh snow deposited atop a compact snowpack up to high altitudes (2600-2800m) which is moist/wet. Above 2600m the near-surface layers of graupel and other soft layers inside the snowdrift accumulations serve as potential weak layers. Due to diffuse radiaiton and warmth, the snowpack is forfeiting its firmness.
Tendency
Little change is anticipated
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
1800m
Wind slab
2200m
Snow quantities relevant for avalanches now only on shady side slopes above 1800m.
Avalanche danger above 1800m is moderate. Wet snow can be problematic on isolated slopes with sufficient snow. Small wet loose snow avalanches are possible in extremely steep terrain, in particular on Wednesday at dusk. Medium-sized glide-snow avalanches are possible on slopes over smooth ground as well as over meadows or rock slabs.
Snowpack
Up to high altitudes the snowpack is thoroughly moist. Barely any layering left in the snowpack. South-facing slopes are widespread bare. Above approx. 1500m there is mostly a continuous snowfield on the shady side.
Tendency
Wet loose snow activity will decrease by the weekend due to cooler temperatures.
Danger level
Hardly any avalanche prone locations left.
Avalanche danger is low. On extremely steep slopes, spontaneous releases of small wet loose snow or glide-snow avalanches cannot be ruled out.
Snowpack
Barely any continuous snow covers left. Only on the shady side above 1500m are there still larger snowfields in some places. The snow is completely soaked but stable.
Tendency
Avalanche danger remains low.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Isolated danger zones
Only isolated mostly small wet-snow avalanches are still possible during the course of the day. Caution urged in gulies in the major areas of precipitation. The runout zones should be give great attentiveness.
Snowpack
dp.10: springtime scenario
Weather conditions have led to the snowpack becoming thoroughly wet. Many starting zones have completely discharged.
Tendency
No significant change expected.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Beware wet snow
Wet-snow avalanches are small but can be triggered even by one sole skier in isolated cases, esp. at the foot of rock walls along the Italian border following nights of overcast skies. Especially in summit zones, isolated small wet loose-snowslides are possible. Due to rainfall, the likelihood of wet-snow avalanches triggering will increase somewhat. Many starting zones are already discharged completely.
Snowpack
dp.10: springtime scenario
Above 2200m, 10cm of fresh snow was registered, locally more. Weather conditions are making the snowpack even wetter, also the recent snowfall. The old snowpack is wet, esp. along the Italian border following nights of overcast skies. The surface can hardly freeze at night and rapidly softens in morning. Below 1800m hardly any snow on the ground.
Tendency
No significant change expected
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
2000m
Small spontaneous loose and wet-snow avalanches possible.
The avalanche danger is assessed as low. The few danger spots are located above 2000m in extremely steep, north-facing slopes and gullies that have not yet been unloaded. Spontaneous loose and wet-snow avalanches cannot be ruled out there.
Snowpack
The snowcover is till high altitudes wet or moist. On southern exposed slopes the snow has almost fully retreated and the retreatment increases. Some fresh snow is deposited on the wet old snow cover or on the warm meadow.
Tendency
No significant change of the avalanche danger is expected.
Danger level
Little snow on the ground, low avalanche danger
Avalanche danger is low. The small amount of fresh snow fell on bare ground in many places. At high altitudes it is will bonded with the old snowpack. In isolated cases, small glide-snow avalanches are possible.
Snowpack
At high altitudes 5-10cm of fresh snow, deposited atop a moistened old snowpack surface. Bare ground at low and intermediate altitudes. All in al, a cohesive area-wide snowpack exists only above 1800m. Very little information from outlying terrain is available to the Avalanche Warning Service.
Tendency
On Saturday, quite sunny, and warmer. Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Isolated danger zones for wet-snow avalanches
Avalanche danger is low. In isolated cases, small glide-snow or wet-snow avalanches can release in steep terrain which has not yet discharged or it can be triggered by persons.
Snowpack
On sunny slopes, the ground is becoming bare. What little snow there is, is moist-to-wet (0-degree isotherm) and often forms a crust capable of bearing loads after a night of clear skies. Daytime warming and solar radiation soften the crust and make it forfeit its firmness.
