The avalanche danger is moderate above 2100 metres and low below. The main problem is fresh drift snow. In the sectors from west to north to east and in gullies, slab avalanches can be triggered in some places by even a small additional load. They can occasionally break through to deeper weak layers and become medium sized if the snow is thick enough. Danger spots are mainly located close to the crest, directly on the main ridge also behind terrain edges far from the crest. Below 2800 m, mostly small sliding snow avalanches can occur spontaneously.
Snowpack
Some brisk southerly winds have worked the snow surface at high altitudes and formed drift snow on a small scale. Away from the influence of the wind, the snow surface is often loose on the shaded side. Overblown, loose snow and angular crystals in the old snow are possible fracture surfaces. On the sunny side, the snow cover has settled a long way up and may have hardened in the morning. In the very steep grassy terrain, it sometimes slides along the ground.
Tendency
The unproductive snowfall on Friday night does not change the situation significantly.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Above the tree line, weak layers may be present in the snow cover.
A small additional load can trigger a small to medium-sized avalanche above the tree line, especially where there are transitions between thin and thicker snow cover. Caution should also be exercised in areas of blowing snow.
Snowpack
dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
In recent days, the snow cover has been colliding, which could weaken the coherence of the snow cover in some areas, particularly on arid slopes. In sloping areas, the snow cover has started to transform more rapidly as the weather has warmed up, forming a crust. Snow is relatively scarce in the mountains. Due to the past influence of wind, the height of the snow cover is uneven and the surface of the snow cover has been reshaped. A few centimetres of light snow have fallen above an altitude of about 1500 m.
Tendency
There will be light to moderate snow in the evening and overnight on Friday, but the amount of new snow is not expected to be significant. The risk of avalanches is unlikely to increase.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Wind slab
2200m
Gliding snow
Caution urged on steep, shady high-altitude slopes. Beware small fresh snowdrifts.
Slab avalanches can be triggered in the old snow in some places by large additional loading. Caution is urged on very steep, shady high altitude slopes. In addition, small-sized snowdrift accumulations occur in ridgeline terrain and behind protruberances in the landscape at increasing frequency with ascending altitude, these drifts are prone to triggering. Small-to-medium sized slab avalanches can be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts. Especially on steep grass-covered slopes, small-sized glide-snow avalanches continue to be possible. Be careful beneath glide cracks.
Snowpack
The fresh fallen snow from the weekend lies deposited on top of an often moist, superficially melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack up to high altitudes. With increasing altitude, particularly in ridgeline and pass zones, as well as behind protruberances in the landscape, small freshly-generated snowdrift accumulations occur. At high altitudes, especially on shady slopes, there are faceted intermediate layers inside the snowpack. These can be triggered in some places. In high altitude ridgeline terrain, surface hoar can form.
Tendency
No significant change in the avalanche situation is anticipated.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Little snow, small drift snow problem
The avalanche danger is low, the main danger is drifting snow.
Small slab avalanches can be triggered in very few places in steep west to north to east exposures at high altitudes.
Snowpack
The snow surface is wind-treated in exposed areas. In the upper part of the snow cover, overblown fresh snow can form a weak layer. Overall, there is still little snow.
Tendency
Little change.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Gliding snow
Predominantly low avalanche danger
Avalanche danger is low. On extremely steep, especially shady slopes, small avalanches can be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts. Apart from being buried in snow masses, the risks of being swept along and forced to fall also require caution. Particularly on sunny slopes where the ground is smooth, naturally triggered small-sized, in isolated cases medium-sized glide-snow avalanches continue to be possible.
Snowpack
The most recent fresh fallen snow lies deposited on top of an often moist, superficially melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack up to high altitudes. Particularly in ridgeline zones, mostly small freshly-generated snowdrift accumulations occur. On steep grass-covered slopes, glide cracks and small-sized glide-snowslides have repeatedly been observed.
Tendency
No significant change in the avalanche situation is anticipated.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Gliding snow
2200m
Wind slab
2000m
Watch out for small-scale drift snow at high altitudes and avoid it. Often only a little snow.
The avalanche danger is low. Smaller, spontaneous sliding snow avalanches are the main problem. They are primarily possible below 2200 m in the east to south to west slope directions. Very steep slopes with slippery ground such as very steep meadows, forest aisles and rock slabs are affected. Areas below sliding snow cracks should be avoided.
At high altitudes, drifting snow can also be problematic, especially on very steep slopes close to the crest with exposures from west to north to east. Small slab avalanches can occasionally be triggered there with a small additional load. The risk of falling must be taken into account.
Snowpack
At medium elevations, the snow cover is moist and compact, often wet at the base. In many places, a snow cover forms overnight. At higher altitudes, the snow cover is mostly dry. With winds from southerly directions, small accumulations of drifting snow could form near the crests, especially in the Allgäu and Werdenfels. On shady slopes, layers of angular crystals have been preserved in places in the old snow at high altitudes.
Tendency
Little change in avalanche danger.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Gliding snow
Wind slab
2000m
Avoid terrain under sliding snow cracks and small-scale drift snow areas
The avalanche danger is low. The main problem is the sliding snow on slopes with exposures from east to south to west. Small sliding snow avalanches can occur spontaneously up to the summits. There are localised danger spots for mostly small slab avalanches (drift snow problem), particularly in the Tauern region and in the high altitudes of the northern Alps.
Snowpack
The snow surface is often loose and angular on the shaded side. In the high altitudes of the Tauern and Northern Alps, there are also small-scale drifts on the shaded side, which can be disturbed on the loose base. On the sunny side, the snow cover has settled a long way up and may have hardened in the morning. Snow sliding is observed on steep grass mats.
Tendency
Little change. The unproductive snowfall on Friday night does not change the situation significantly.
