The avalanche danger is moderate above 2400 metres and low below that. The main problem is slab avalanches in old snow, which can still be triggered by individual winter sports enthusiasts in the west, north and east exposures, especially at transitions from a little to a lot of snow. In addition, drift snow packs can still be triggered in the extended northern sector. Danger spots are located here particularly in the entrance areas of gullies and hollows as well as behind terrain edges. The avalanches usually remain small, but can occasionally break through into the old snow and become medium-sized.
Below 2800 m, small gliding snow avalanches can still spontaneously occur. Avoid areas underneath sliding snow pockets.
Snowpack
A total of between 5 and 10 centimetres of fresh snow will fall overnight and on Friday with little wind influence. On the shady side, the fresh snow may cover fresh (from the south foehn of the past few days) and older drift snow packs, which are lying on an unfavourably built-up old snow cover of angular crystals. In areas where the wind has calmed down, the old snow surface is still loose or covered with surface frost. On the sunny side, the old snow cover is set far up and can be hardened. In very steep grass mat terrain, the snow cover is partly sliding off the ground.
Tendency
Little change for the time being.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Wind slab
2200m
Gliding snow
Caution urged on steep, shady 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 masses of fresh fallen snow and snowdrifts occur in ridgeline and pass zones and behind protruberances in the landscape at increasing frequency with ascending altitude. Small-to-medium sized slab avalanches can be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts. These avalanche prone locations are easily recognized for practiced mountaineers. Especially on smooth-ground sunny slopes, small-sized glide-snow avalanches continue to be possible.
Snowpack
Tonight some fresh snowfall is anticipated. With increasing altitude, particularly in ridgeline and pass zones, as well as behind protruberances in the landscape, small-sized freshly generated and older snowdrift accumulations occur which are prone to triggering. At higher altitudes, particularly on shady slopes, faceted intermediate layers occur inside the snowpack. In places, these can be triggered. There is still only limited information available to the Avalanche Warning Services from off-piste terrain.
Tendency
No significant change in the avalanche situation is anticipated.
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
Tonight some fresh snowfall is anticipated. This will be deposited on top of a thoroughly wet, well settled and superficially melt-freeze encrusted snowpack up to high altitudes. Particularly in ridgeline terrain, small freshly generated and older, generally small-sized snowdrift accumulations occur. On steep grass-covered slopes, repeated glide cracks and small glide-snowslides have been observed. There is still only limited information available to the Avalanche Warning Services from off-piste terrain.
Tendency
No significant change in the avalanche situation is anticipated.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Gliding snow
2200m
Little snow overall. Small gliding and drifting snow problem.
The avalanche risk is low. Small accumulations of drift snow on steep slopes close to the crest with exposures from south-west to north to east and in gullies and hollows can be problematic, especially at high altitudes. In places, they can be triggered as small slab avalanches with a small additional load.
Small, spontaneous sliding snow avalanches are also possible below 2200 metres. Very steep slopes with slippery ground such as very steep meadows, forest aisles and rock slabs are affected. Avoid areas below sliding snow cracks.
Snowpack
Some fresh snow is being transported by moderate winds from different directions. The drift snow is only slightly thick, but easy to disturb in places. It is mainly deposited on the shady side on an angularly built-up old snow surface or surface hoar frost. On shaded slopes at higher altitudes, layers of angular crystals are sometimes preserved deeper in the old snow. At the transition to the ground, the snowpack is often wet below 2200 metres.
Tendency
Slight increase in avalanche danger with precipitation and wind on Saturday.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
Gliding snow
Avoid small-scale drift snow packs
The avalanche danger is low.
At a few danger spots in the terrain, fresh and older drift snow packs can be triggered by individual winter sports enthusiasts. There are local danger spots particularly in the Tauern and the high altitudes of the northern Alps. Danger areas are most likely to be found in the extended northern exposures and there behind terrain edges as well as the entrance areas of gullies and hollows. The slab avalanches usually remain small.
In addition, there is still a problem with sliding snow on slopes with exposures from east to south to west. Small sliding snow avalanches may still spontaneously release up to the summits.
Snowpack
A few centimetres of fresh snow will fall overnight and on Friday with little wind influence. The old 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. In the very steep grass mat terrain, the snow cover slides off the ground in places.
Tendency
Little change.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
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
Older drift snow packs on the snow surface are covered by a few centimetres of fresh snow overnight. Some of the drift snow packs are lying on soft layers and are still prone to disruption in places. Overall, there is still little snow.
Tendency
Little change.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
Above the tree line, weak layers may be present in the snow cover.
In a few places, a small to medium-sized avalanche can be triggered above the tree line under higher loads. Greater caution is needed, especially in shaded areas where weak layers may be present in the snow cover and in places with blowing snow. This is particularly true for concave landforms such as ravines and gullies.
Snowpack
dp.4: cold following warm / warm following cold
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. Between 5 and 15 cm of new snow is expected. The risk of avalanches is unlikely to increase.
