As a result of foehn wind impact, fresh, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations have been generated particularly in ridgline and pass areas. In addition, one single winter sports enthusiast can trigger slab avalanches in the old snow. If these sweep away the entire snowpack, they can grow to medium size. Danger zones are found especially on steep shady slopes, but also occur in wind-loaded gullies and bowls in all aspects. Whumpf noises and fractures in the snowpack surface are alarm signals. Also remote triggerings continue to be possible. Activities in backcountry, away from secured ski runs, demand experience in evaluating the terrain and assessing avalanche dangers.
Snowpack
As a result of brisk-to-strong velocity southerly winds, fresh snowdrifts have accumulated especially in ridgeline and pass areas which on shady, high-altitudes slopes lie atop a loosely-pack fundament of old snow and are prone to triggering. Bonding of the fresh snow and drifts from last week to the often faceted, expansively metamorphosed old snowpack surface and inside the unfavorably structured layers of old snow continues to be moderate-to-weak. Remote triggering, settling noises and fractures on the surface of the snowpack confirm the ongoing proneness to triggering.
Tendency
No significant change is anticipated. At higher altitudes, weak layers in the old snow and freshly generated snowdrifts are prone to triggering widespread.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Fresh wind slab due to south foehn
The risk of avalanches increases rapidly with altitude from around 1800 metres and is considerable above 2000 metres.
Slab avalanches can be triggered in some places by small additional loads and can reach medium size. Avalanche prone locations are concentrated in the north-west, north to east facing steep terrain, but also in the southern sector, behind terrain edges and in gullies and bowls. They increase rapidly in size and frequency with altitude. The wind slabs are often located directly next to blown-off areas, are easily recognisable and should be avoided at all costs. Cracks and whumpfing collapsing sounds when walking on the snow cover, snowpack are a sign of danger.
Snowpack
Under the influence of mild air and sunlight, the snow cover, snowpack has settled and become cardboardy up to around 2000 metres. It has at least a thin melt-freeze crust in the morning. Fresh and older wind slabs lie on an angular, prone-to-triggering old snow base. Further weak layers of faceted crystals and deep rime lie in the persistent weak layer below and can occasionally be activated by surface avalanches. The total snow depth is still well below average in many places. Broad ridge and ridges are often completely blown off.
Tendency
No significant change on Monday, the foehn will continue, wind slab problem persists.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Moderate avalanche danger at higher altitudes
As a result of foehn-wind impact, generally small trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations have been generated from place to place. Older drifted snow from last week is still prone to triggering in some places at high altitudes. Winter sports enthusiasts can in the wind-loaded zones, particularly on steep W-N-E facing slopes and in gullies and bowls, trigger small-sized (in isolated cases medium-sized) slab avalanches. At lower altitudes, naturally triggered wet-snow slides and small avalanches are possible during the course of the day.
Snowpack
As a result of brisk-to-strong velocity southerly winds, fresh snowdrifts have accumulated especially in ridgeline and pass areas which on shady, high-altitudes slopes lie atop a loosely-pack fundament of old snow and are prone to triggering. The fresh snow and drifts from last week was able to continue further due to higher temperatures. Bonding of the fresh snow and drifts from last week to the often faceted, expansively metamorphosed old snowpack surface and inside the unfavorably structured layers of old snow continues to be only moderate in places. As a result of higher temperatures, the snow at low and intermediate altitudes has become moist, and the snowpack surface in early morning is melt-freeze encrusted. At low altitudes there is little snow on the ground.
Tendency
No significant change is anticipated.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Consistently avoid drifting snow areas
The avalanche danger is moderate above 2000 metres and low below. Small to medium slab avalanches can be triggered in very steep terrain by even a small additional load. Most avalanche prone locations are on north-west, north to south-east facing slopes, behind ridges and in gullies and bowls. The wind slab is easily recognisable and should be avoided. Cracks and whumpfing collapsing sounds when walking on the snow cover, snowpack indicate danger.
Snowpack
Under the influence of mild air and sunlight, the snow cover, snowpack has settled and become cardboardy up to around 2000 metres. In the morning it has at least a thin melt-freeze crust, and up to around 1900 metres it also has a crust of rain ice. At high altitudes, older wind slab snow is still prone to triggering in places, and fresh wind slab snow is also formed on a small scale during the day. The transition to the old snowpack (faceted crystals on/under the crust) usually serves as a weak layer. It consists of layers of faceted crystals, deep rime and melt-freeze crusts. Surface-triggered avalanches can tear through to the ground. The total snow depth is still well below average. Ridges and ridges are often completely blown off.
Tendency
It will remain foehn, the situation will not change significantly on Monday.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Treeline
If fresh wind slab forms due to the strong southerly wind, this must be taken into account!
The avalanche danger is classified as moderate above the tree line. Only rarely could there be transportable snow. If there is fresh wind slab (strong southerly wind) in the extended northern sector, this is very prone to triggering and should therefore be avoided. There are still avalanche prone locations in extreme terrain (areas adjacent to the ridgeline, crests or summits, bowls and gullies) at high altitudes where weak layers in the old snowpack could be addressed, in particular due to large, sometimes small additional loads. Possible avalanches are mostly small to medium-sized.
Snowpack
The snow cover, snowpack was able to settle with the mild temperatures and incoming radiation. The snow base, fundament is weakened by the kinetic metamorphism. The old snowpack therefore contains layers with faceted crystals and/or floating snow. At high altitudes, fresh small-scale but very easily disturbed snowdrift accumulations could only form where transportable snow occurs. The snow depths are still very below average.
Tendency
No significant change in the snow and avalanche situation.
Danger level
1600m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1600m
Snow cover tests confirm danger of slab avalanches in places.
The avalanche danger is moderate above 1600 metres and low below that. The main problem is a persistent weak layer. Dry slab avalanches can be triggered in some places by a small additional load. Avalanche prone locations are at the transition from little to much snow, for example at the entrance to gullies and bowls. Slab avalanches can reach medium size, especially on snowy eastern and northern slopes.
In addition, wet snow can occasionally become problematic during the daytime changes. Small, wet avalanches can detach themselves, especially when exposed to sunlight in very steep, extreme terrain.
Snowpack
The snow cover, snowpack is increasingly settling in mild temperatures. In places, old snow packs lie on a crust of melted snow, in the area of which there are weak, built-up layers. At high altitudes, the snowpack base consists of faceted crystals. The snow surface is dominated by breakable crust up to medium elevations, and cardboard snow in the forest. On the sunny slopes, it is increasingly icy in the morning and firns up again in parts during the daytime changes.
Tendency
The persistent weak layer problem remains for the time being.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Unfavourable snow layering in the northern sector!
The avalanche danger is assessed as moderate at high altitudes. Avalanche prone locations are in the east and north sectors, especially behind ridgelines, terrain edges and in steep gullies and bowls (persistent weak layer problem!). Slab avalanches can occasionally be triggered at the avalanche prone locations by even small additional loads and can reach medium size.
Snowpack
Most of the snow cover, snowpack has settled. The snow layering is currently not changing significantly. In the high altitudes, older wind slab lies on angular forms in the northern and eastern exposures. Weak layers are mainly found in the old snowpack (unstable layer of faceted crystals). In the foundation of the snow cover, kinetic metamorphism (floating snow) weakens the stability. On the sunny slopes, the snowpack is again becoming more stable.
Due to the wind from the south, fresh snowdrift accumulations are forming occasionally in the high alpine regions (Schladminger Tauern - Dachstein), especially above 2300 metres.
Snow depths are still below average.
Tendency
Little change on Monday. Strong southerly foehn winds in dry air on the main ridge. No snow in sight at the moment!
No change in the avalanche danger is expected.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1800m
The wind slab is easily recognisable - avoid it consistently
The avalanche danger is moderate above around 1800 metres and low below.
Small to medium slab avalanches can be triggered in very steep terrain by low additional loads. Most avalanche prone locations are on north-west, north to south-east facing slopes, behind ridges and in gullies and bowls. The wind slab is easily recognisable and should be avoided.
Snowpack
Under the influence of mild air and sunlight, the snow cover, snowpack has settled and become cardboardy up to around 2000 metres. In the morning, it has a melt-freeze crust that is not stable everywhere. At higher altitudes, older wind slabs are still prone to triggering in places. The transition to the old snowpack (faceted crystals on/under the crust) usually serves as a weak layer. It consists of layers of faceted crystals, deep rime and melt-freeze crusts. The total snow depth is still well below average. Ridges and ridges are often completely blown off.
Tendency
No significant change.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Persistent weak layer
Avalanche danger is low
The snowpack stabilized a little in the last few days as the weather warmed up. There are some places with blowing snow, which can trigger a small Avalanche if the load is too high. More blowing snow may also be present in gullies and gullys.
Snowpack
dp.4: cold following warm / warm following cold
The snow base is locally quite variable, with little snow overall. On the sunny slopes of the mid-mountains, the snow is more variable, with land areas appearing. Elsewhere, the snowpack is mostly dry and less transformed, with some drifting at the top. Ridges and peaks are in many places blown down, the ground may be covered with a crust or icy.
Tendency
Avalanche conditions will remain similar in the coming days. Early next week will be cooler than in the past period.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Wet snow
Low risk of small, wet avalanches
The avalanche risk is low. Individual wet and predominantly small avalanches can spontaneously break loose from very steep terrain with the sunlight.
Snowpack
The snow cover, snowpack is moist to wet due to rainfall, mild air and sunlight, depending on the altitudes, and closes with a crust of melt or rain ice, which forms a steep sunny slope during the day. The snow base, fundament is partially weakened by persistent weak layers.
Tendency
No significant change on Sunday. A moderately strong southerly wind is not able to move the snow.
Danger level
1600m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1600m
Be aware of the risk of falling!
The avalanche danger is low. Persistent weak layers are the problem. Small avalanches can be triggered occasionally with little additional load. Avalanche prone locations can be found on very steep slopes in the northern and eastern aspects.
Snowpack
Up to high altitudes, the snow cover, snowpack is crusted on the surface and partly icy on the sunny slopes. Here it softens on the surface during the daytime changes. In the shade, a crumbly melt-freeze crust dominates at medium elevations. At higher elevations, older wind slab lies on dry, angular layers in places. The snow depths are below average and ground contact is to be expected.
Tendency
The avalanche danger remains low.
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
Low avalanche danger. Poor snow layering on the north side!
The avalanche danger is low.
In the extremely steep north-facing gullies at high altitudes, the possibility of a snow slab being triggered cannot be ruled out.
Snowpack
There is currently little change in the snow cover, snowpack. On the north side, the kinetic metamorphism is weakening the snow base, fundament. Angular shapes or cup crystals form weak layers. A melt-freeze crust has formed on the sunny slope, but it is not always stable. The snowpack depths are below average.
Tendency
The avalanche danger remains low.
Little change on Monday. Strong southerly foehn winds in dry air on the main ridge. No snow in sight at the moment!
Danger level
Low avalanche danger, isolated avalanche prone locations in shady slopes
The avalanche danger is low. In extremely steep shady slopes above the tree line, small slab avalanches cannot be completely ruled out. The risk of injury and falling generally outweighs the risk of burial. In general, be careful in the hardness or icy entrance areas to steep gullies. Especially in the extended northern exposures, fresh, thin snowdrift accumulations can cover the icy areas.
Snowpack
The snow surface is crusted and hard, during the day it hardly softens even on the sunny slopes. The snow base, fundament is usually set and compact. In extremely steep shady-slope gullies, the snow base, fundament can be partially weakened by angular shapes, but these areas are rare. In general, the snow cover is below average, with often only a few centimetres of snow covering the ground below the tree line.
