The avalanche danger is moderate above 2000 metres and low below. Drift snow is the main problem. Danger spots are in steep terrain close to the crest with exposures from north-west to north to east as well as in gullies and hollows. The drifting snow can be triggered as a mostly small slab avalanche with a small additional load.
Small, spontaneous sliding snow avalanches are also possible below 2000 metres. Very steep slopes of all exposures with smooth ground such as meadows, forest aisles and rock slabs are affected. Areas below sliding snow cracks should be avoided.
Snowpack
Some rain will fall up to medium altitudes, above which it will snow. Loose snow below the snow line will become moist and lose its firmness. At higher altitudes, dry snow will be carried by winds from the west. Fresh and occasionally older drift snow lies mainly on the shady side on softer layers and is susceptible to disruption. On shady slopes at high altitudes, deeper layers of angular crystals can occasionally be found in the snowpack. At mid-altitudes, the snowpack at the transition to the ground is widely wet.
Tendency
The snow cover becomes increasingly damp with warm temperatures and rain. Wet snow becomes a problem.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Gliding snow
Caution urged on steep, shady slopes. Fresh snowdrifts will be generated during the daytime.
During the course of the day, mostly small-sized trigger-sensitive snowdrifts will accumulate. Older snowdrift masses can still be triggered, particularly on shady slopes. They have now been blanketed by fresh snowfall, making them difficult to recognize. Small-to-medium sized slab triggerings are possible by winter sports enthusiasts. In addition, slab avalanches can be unleashed in parts of the old snowpack by large additional loading. Caution urged on high-altitude very steep shady slopes. Particularly in zones with rain impact, increasingly frequent small-sized glide-snow avalanches are possible.
Snowpack
Due to increasing winds, loosely-packed snow will be transported at high altitudes and, from place to place some snowdrifts will accumulate, mostly small-sized. Particularly in high-altitude ridgeline terrain, snowdrift accumulations frequently lie deposited on top of surface hoar. With ascending altitude, the small-sized older snowdrifts are still prone to triggering. At high altitudes, particularly on shady slopes, faceted intermediate layers occur inside the snowpack, these can often be triggered. On smooth, steep slopes, isolated small-sized glide-snow avalanches have been reported.
Tendency
On Sunday afternoon and on Monday, avalanche danger could increase somewhat due to some fresh fallen snow and strong winds. On Monday, mild temperatures are expected.
Danger level
2400m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2400m
Wind slab
2400m
Weak layers in the old snow are still susceptible to disruption in some cases
The avalanche danger is moderate above 2400 metres and low below. The main danger comes from small to medium-sized slab avalanches. These can still be triggered by individual winter sports enthusiasts in the west, north and east exposures, particularly at transitions from little to a lot of snow and in the entrance areas to snow-covered gullies and hollows. Danger areas due to drifting snow are sometimes thinly covered with snow and difficult to recognise. Occasionally, small sliding snow avalanches can still come loose. Avoid areas underneath sliding snow mounds.
Snowpack
Over the past few days, small accumulations of drift snow have formed close to the crest, which are lying on an unfavourable layer of old snow with soft layers of angular crystals. Some of the drift snow packs are covered by a small amount of fresh snow. In windless areas, the snow surface is loose or covered with surface frost. On the sunny side, the snow cover has settled and may have hardened on the surface. In very steep grassy terrain, the snow cover is still occasionally sliding along the ground.
Tendency
With the arrival of a warm front and a rise in the snow line, the avalanche risk increases slightly for a short time.
Danger level
2400m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2400m
Gliding snow
Small slabs of snow can still be released in a few places
The avalanche danger is low. Small slab avalanches can still be triggered by individual winter sports enthusiasts in a few places in the terrain - the high altitudes of the Niedere Tauern and the Northern Alps are particularly affected. Danger areas are located in the extended northern exposures and behind the edges of the terrain as well as the entrance areas of gullies and hollows. Some small sliding snow avalanches can still be triggered from very steep grass mat terrain.
Snowpack
In the high altitudes of the Niedere Tauern and Northern Alps, there are small-scale drift snow packs close to the crest, which lie on the shaded side on an unfavourably built-up old snow cover with soft layers of angular crystals. Some of the drift snow is covered by a small amount of fresh snow. In places where the wind is calm, the snow surface on the shaded side is angular and loose. On the sunny side, the snow cover has settled and may have hardened on the surface. In very steep grassy terrain, the snow cover is still sliding off the ground in some places.
Tendency
With the arrival of a warm front and a rise in the snow line, the avalanche risk increases slightly for a short time.
Danger level
Little snow in the terrain
The avalanche risk is low, there are hardly any danger spots in the terrain. Small snow slabs are most likely to be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts in very and extremely steep, shaded terrain. The risk of injury and entrainment exceeds the risk of burial.
Snowpack
A few centimetres of fresh snow cover some of the older drift snow lenses and surface hoar frost. In places, the drift snow lies on an unfavourably built-up layer of old snow with soft layers of angular crystals, which are still prone to disruption in places. Overall, there is still little snow in the terrain.
Tendency
There is little snow in the terrain. The arrival of a warm front and the rise in the snow line therefore have little influence on the avalanche risk.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Gliding snow
Only small amounts of fresh snow, low avalanche danger.
Avalanche danger is low. During the course of the day, mostly small-sized trigger-sensitive snowdrifts will accumulate above the timberline. Older snowdrift accumulations can still be triggered, particularly on shady slopes at high altitudes. Due to shallow snow depths, avalanches will remain small. Apart from being buried in snow masses, the risks of being swept along and forced to fall also require caution. Particularly in zones with rain impact, increasingly frequent small-sized glide-snow avalanches will again be possible.
Snowpack
Due to increasing winds, loosely-packed snow will be transported at high altitudes and, from place to place some snowdrifts will accumulate, mostly small-sized. Particularly in high-altitude ridgeline terrain, snowdrift accumulations frequently lie deposited on top of surface hoar. With ascending altitude, the small-sized older snowdrifts are still prone to triggering. At high altitudes, particularly on shady slopes, faceted intermediate layers occur inside the snowpack, these can often be triggered. On smooth, steep slopes, isolated small-sized glide-snow avalanches have been reported.
Tendency
On Sunday afternoon and on Monday, avalanche danger could increase somewhat due to some fresh fallen snow and strong winds. On Monday, mild temperatures are expected.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Gliding snow
2000m
Avoid areas below sliding snow cracks.
The avalanche danger is low. Sliding snow is the problem. Below 2000 m, small, spontaneous sliding snow avalanches are possible on very steep slopes of all exposures with smooth ground.
At the highest altitudes, isolated drift snow can be problematic. The few danger spots are in the steep terrain close to the crest in the northern exposures. The drifting snow can be triggered as a small slab avalanche with a small additional load.
Snowpack
Some rain falls, especially in the western regions. Loose snow will become moist and lose its firmness. In the shaded areas at the highest altitudes, fresh and older drift snow lies on softer layers and may be prone to disruption in isolated cases. Up to the middle elevations, the snow cover at the transition to the ground will be widely wet.
Tendency
The snow cover becomes increasingly damp with warm temperatures and rain. Wet snow becomes a problem.
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
On Friday night, 5 to 10 cm of rain fell in the mountains. The snow fell mostly in light winds, so the wind carried the snow only in the most exposed places. Snow in the mountains is relatively scarce. The snow cover is becoming increasingly crusty due to various factors. Weak layers may be present in the snow cover, especially on the axial slopes of the high mountains.
Tendency
In sunny weather, the snow cover on the soils will start to change more quickly, forming a crust. Isolated avalanches of wet snow will be possible.
