Watch out for wind slab in the steep terrain at high altitudes!
Moderate avalanche danger in the higher elevations due to the wind slab snow of the last few days. Prone to triggering snowdrift accumulations have formed due to persistent strong to stormy winds from westerly directions and occasional snowfall. There are avalanche prone locations mainly in areas adjacent to the ridgelines, bowls, gullies and in places also distant from ridgelines. The triggering of small to rarely medium slab avalanches is possible due to low additional loads. The mostly easily recognisable avalanche prone locations should be avoided. Be aware of the risk of falling on the hard old snowpack.
Snowpack
Due to the strong to stormy winds of the last few days and some new fallen snow, unstable snowdrift accumulations have formed, which do not bind sufficiently with the hardness of the old snowpack and can contain thin intermediate layers. The thin old snowpack contains faceted crystals that have been transformed by building up. The snow depths are very below average, even at high altitudes.
Tendency
No significant change in the snow and avalanche situation.
Danger level
2400m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2400m
Persistent weak layer
2600m
Prone to triggering fresh wind slab.
The avalanche danger is moderate above 2400 metres and low below. Storms from the northwest have been depositing fresh wind slab snow on an unfavourably built-up old snow surface for several days. From around 2400 m, avalanches can be triggered by individuals in some places and occasionally become medium-sized. There is a risk of burial in particular near terrain traps, i.e. in areas adjacent to the ridgeline, crest or summit. The drift snow packs are usually easily recognisable.
Snowpack
The snow cover, snowpack is highly variable. On the surface, in leeward areas, there is a succession of fresh drift snow layers on the melt-freeze crust of the old snow surface. Fractures are most possible here, the drift snow layers are poorly connected to each other and to the melt-freeze crust in some places. Underneath, there is usually edgy snow with no binding. Due to the overall heavily built-up transformed snow cover, the potential for fracture propagation in the old snowpack is generally low. The snow depth is well below average at all altitudes.
Tendency
No significant change in the avalanche danger on Saturday.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Fresh and older wind slabs are prone to triggering.
The avalanche danger is moderate above 2000 metres and low below that. In some places, wind slab avalanches can be triggered as small to medium sized slab avalanches at high altitudes by a small additional load. This occurs adjacent to the ridgeline, crest or summit and distant from ridgelines in steep terrain in northern and eastern aspects as well as in gullies and bowls. In addition to the risk of burial, the risk of being swept away and falling must be taken into account.
Snowpack
Stormy winds are transporting the snow. Fresh and older snowdrift accumulations are sometimes prone to triggering on surface hoar, especially on the shady slopes. Intermediate layers prone to triggering can also be found within the wind slab. At higher and higher altitudes, faceted crystals can often be found underneath a melt-freeze crust close to the surface. A few centimetres of new fallen snow, up to high altitudes on the sunny slopes.
Tendency
Slow decline in avalanche danger.
Danger level
1900m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1900m
Pay attention to fresh wind slab
There is a moderate avalanche risk above 2200 metres. The prone to triggering snowdrift accumulations continue to develop due to the stormy north-westerly wind. These can be triggered by individuals as small to medium-sized slab avalanches, especially behind broad ridges and ridgelines in northern, eastern and southern aspects as well as in gullies and bowls. The avalanche prone locations are easily recognisable with sufficient visibility. Pale areas are often covered by a little snow.
Snowpack
The existing snow cover, snowpack is characterised by the strong winds of the last few days. Fresh snowdrift accumulations may form on New Year's Eve with around 15 cm of new fallen snow and persistently strong winds. In many places, they will cover soft layers in the transition to persistent weak layers or existing drift snow packs. The connection between them is poor at high altitudes. On the shady slopes, there are sometimes weak layers of faceted crystals in the old snow foundation. The composition and thickness of the snow cover, snowpack varies greatly in a small area. There is often insufficient old snowpack.
Tendency
In the north of Styria, a few centimetres of new fallen snow will be added in the night from Friday to Saturday. No significant change to the avalanche situation is expected with the influence of wind and cold.
Saturday will be quite friendly but cold. The sun will shine almost unclouded for most of the day, with the clouds only thickening from the south during the afternoon.
EARLIER Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
LATER Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Fresh snowdrift accumulations develop. In addition to the risk of burial, the risk of being swept away and falling must be taken into account.
The avalanche risk increases to moderate above the tree line during the daytime changes, otherwise it is low. In some places, wind slab avalanches can be triggered by slight additional load as small, and by the afternoon also medium-sized slab avalanches. This occurs adjacent to the ridgeline, crest or summit and distant from ridgelines in steep terrain in northern and eastern aspects as well as in gullies and bowls.
Snowpack
Stormy winds are transporting the snow. Fresh and older snowdrift accumulations are sometimes prone to triggering on surface hoar, especially on the shady slopes. Intermediate layers prone to triggering can also be found within the wind slab. At higher and higher elevations, faceted crystals can often be found below a melt-freeze crust close to the surface. On the sunny slopes, the little new fallen snow falls up to high altitudes on the apery ground.
Tendency
Little change.
EARLIER Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
LATER Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Storm strength winds and fresh snowfall during the course of the day. Beware fresh snowdrifts.
As a result of snowfall and storm-strength winds, avalanche danger will increase to moderate over the course of the day above the timberline. Freshly generated snowdrifts can trigger mostly small-sized avalanches in some places even by minimum additional loading. Danger zones occur on wind-impacted drifted slopes and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the danger of being forced to take a fall and being swept along also need to be taken into consideration.
Snowpack
Storm-strength winds are expected to transport the fresh fallen snow during the course of the day. The freshly generated drifts will be deposited primarily on shady slopes on top of an expansively metamorphosed snowpack surface, and are prone to triggering. Snow depths are significantly below average at all altitudes. Only limited information is available to the Avalanche Warning Services from outlying terrain.
Tendency
Due to fresh snowfall and winds, avalanche danger is expected to increase somewhat.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Storm strength winds and fresh snowfall during the course of the day. Beware fresh snowdrifts.
As a result of snowfall and storm-strength winds, avalanche danger will increase somewhat over the course of the day above the timberline. Freshly generated snowdrifts can trigger mostly small-sized avalanches in some places even by minimum additional loading. Danger zones occur on wind-impacted drifted slopes and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the danger of being forced to take a fall and being swept along also need to be taken into consideration.
Snowpack
Storm-strength winds are expected to transport the fresh fallen snow during the course of the day. The freshly generated drifts will be deposited primarily on shady slopes on top of an expansively metamorphosed snowpack surface, and are prone to triggering. Snow depths are significantly below average at all altitudes. Only limited information is available to the Avalanche Warning Services from outlying terrain.
Tendency
Due to fresh snowfall and winds, avalanche danger is expected to increase somewhat.
Danger level
Watch out locally for small snowdrift accumulations.
The avalanche danger is low. Up to 20 cm of new fallen snow has been brought down by north-westerly winds over the last few days on ground that was previously mostly bare. Touring options remain severely limited and snow relevant for burial can only accumulate in well-recognised terrain traps. However, the risk of avalanches is outweighed by the risk of injury from underlying rocks.
Snowpack
There is a succession of thin layers of drifting snow on the meadows. The snow cover is well below average and very variable.
Tendency
The avalanche danger remains low on Saturday despite some new fallen snow.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Wind slab
Treeline
The danger of avalanches is low.
Snowpack is mostly stable. In some places in the high alpine regions, especially on fresh drifts of blown snow, a small, clustered avalanche can be triggered under higher loads.
Snowpack
dp.4: cold following warm / warm following cold
There is little snow, and the peaks and ridges are in some places blown bare. In the high alpine regions, weak layers may be present in the old snowpack.
On prominent Sunny slopes, the snow has been frozen off and then frozen over, forming a drift.
Tendency
Over the weekend there will be more sunshine, mainly in the west and north. Elsewhere it will be cloudier with occasional light showers. It will be cooler than on Friday, with NE winds on Sunday.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Storm strength winds and fresh snowfall during the course of the day. Beware fresh snowdrifts.
As a result of snowfall and storm-strength winds, avalanche danger will increase somewhat over the course of the day above the timberline. Freshly generated snowdrifts can trigger mostly small-sized avalanches in some places even by minimum additional loading. Danger zones occur on wind-impacted drifted slopes and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the danger of being forced to take a fall and being swept along also need to be taken into consideration.
Snowpack
Storm-strength winds are expected to transport the fresh fallen snow during the course of the day. The freshly generated drifts will be deposited primarily on shady slopes on top of an expansively metamorphosed snowpack surface, and are prone to triggering. Snow depths are significantly below average at all altitudes. Only limited information is available to the Avalanche Warning Services from outlying terrain.
Tendency
Due to fresh snowfall and winds, avalanche danger is expected to increase somewhat.
Danger level
Rare release points and risk of injury from stones.
The avalanche risk is low, but injuries from stones and falling remain the main dangers. Some wind slab has accumulated on a small scale. This is easily recognisable and can only be disturbed by individuals in isolated cases. In gullies and bowls adjacent to the ridgeline, crests or summits in shady slopes, there are isolated trigger points in persistent weak layers that are difficult to disturb.
Snowpack
There is a below-average amount of snow and the snow cover, snowpack is highly variable in the interior. In shady slopes at high altitudes, weak layers of faceted crystals are occasionally preserved in the snow cover, mostly in the vicinity of crusts. The fracture propagation potential is generally low due to the overall highly structured snow cover, snowpack.
Tendency
The avalanche danger remains low on Saturday.
Danger level
2200m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2200m
Fresh wind slab prone to triggering.
The avalanche danger is low. With new fallen snow and stormy winds from the northwest, fresh prone-to-triggering snow packs have been forming for a few days, which can be triggered by individuals in a few places from around 2200 metres. Most avalanches remain small, but enough snow could accumulate in isolated terrain traps to bury people. Be careful behind exposed ridges and ridgelines, in gullies and bowls. In shady slopes, there are still very occasional trigger points in persistent weak layers that are difficult to disturb. The drift snow packs are usually easily recognisable, stones under the thin snow cover, snowpack often not.
Snowpack
The snow cover, snowpack is highly variable. On the surface, in leeward areas, there is a succession of fresh drift snow layers on the melt-freeze crust of the old snow surface. Fractures are most possible here, the drift snow layers are poorly connected to each other and to the melt-freeze crust in some places. Underneath, there is usually edgy snow with no binding. Due to the overall heavily built-up transformed snow cover, the potential for fracture propagation in the old snowpack is generally low. The snow depth is well below average at all altitudes.
Tendency
The avalanche danger increases slightly on Saturday with new fallen snow and wind.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
No distinct avalanche problem
Isolated drift snow packs still prone to triggering in the Niedere Tauern and in the Eisenerz Alps
The avalanche danger is generally low. Especially in the Niedere Tauern and in the Eisenerz Alps, isolated snowdrift accumulations have formed, which can be triggered as small slab avalanches by a large additional load. This is especially the case behind exposed ridges and ridgelines as well as in gullies and bowls. The avalanche prone locations are generally easy to recognise. In most cases, the risk of entrainment and injury outweighs the risk of burial.
Snowpack
The existing snow cover, snowpack is characterised by the strong wind influence of the last few days. In places, fresh windslab snow was deposited on a crusted old snowpack under the influence of strong winds. In many places, a built-up transformed surface or older wind slab is covered. The rise in temperature has allowed the wind slab to settle somewhat. The connection to each other has therefore improved. The nature and thickness of the snow cover, snowpack varies greatly in a small area. There is often insufficient old snowpack. In general, there is little snow. On the sunny slopes, the snow cover is progressing.
Tendency
It remains cold and windy. From Friday to Saturday, there will only be a few centimetres of new fallen snow in the Niedere Tauern and the Eisenerz Alps. Only a few snowflakes will fall between Turrach and the Wechsel region. Watch out for small-scale areas prone to triggering snow at the weekend.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Watch out for small snowdrift accumulations.
The avalanche risk is low. Occasionally, small snowdrift accumulations can be triggered as a small slab by a small additional load. This occurs adjacent to the ridgeline and distant from ridgelines in the steep terrain of northern and eastern aspects. Be aware of the risk of being swept away and falling.
Snowpack
Stormy winds and a few centimetres of new fallen snow are causing small-scale wind slab accumulations. The fresh and older snowdrift accumulations are only slightly thick, but are prone to triggering on surface hoar, especially on the shady slopes. At higher and higher elevations, there are often faceted crystals down to the ground below a melt-freeze crust near the surface. On the sunny slopes, the little new fallen snow falls up to high altitudes on the apery ground.
