Avalanche Service Styria

Wednesday 21 January 2026

Published 20 Jan 2026, 17:00:00


Danger level

1800m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1800m


Persistent weak layer problem in the northern sector!

The avalanche danger is assessed as moderate above 1,800 metres and low below that. Slab avalanches can be triggered in some places even with little additional load and can reach medium size when breaking through the persistent weak layer. The danger areas are located in particular in the north to east aspects behind ridgelines and terrain edges as well as in the entrance areas to steep gullies and bowls.

Snowpack

The stormy southerly wind from the montage caused fresh, small-scale snowdrift accumulations to form. In the higher elevations, there is fresh and older wind slab snow in the extended northern and eastern exposures on an unstable snow cover, snowpack with weak layers of faceted crystals and floating snow. On the sunny slopes, the snow cover, snowpack is mostly settled and quite compact.

Tendency

No change in the avalanche danger. Thursday will be mostly sunny and the wind will blow from the south.


Danger level

1800m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1800m


Areas prone to triggering due to weak layers in the persistent weak layer

The avalanche danger is assessed as low. Slab avalanches can still be triggered in a few places with little additional load, but usually remain small. The danger areas are located in particular in the north to north-east aspects behind ridgelines and terrain edges as well as in the entrance areas to steep gullies and bowls.

Snowpack

In the higher elevations, there is fresh and older wind slab snow in the extended north and north-east exposures on an unstable snow cover, snowpack with weak layers of faceted crystals and floating snow. On the sunny slopes, the snow cover, snowpack is mostly settled and quite compact. The snow depths are still below average.

Tendency

Thursday will be mostly sunny with winds from the south. No change in the avalanche risk is expected.


Danger level


Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer


Low avalanche danger, isolated avalanche prone locations in shady slopes

The avalanche danger is low. In extremely steep and shady slopes above the tree line, the triggering of 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.

Snowpack

The snow surface is crusted and hard, during the day it hardly softens even on the sunny slopes. The snow base, fundament is 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.

Tendency

No change in the avalanche danger. Thursday will be mostly sunny and the wind will blow from the south.