Avalanche Service Styria Friday 23 January 2026

Danger level

1800m

Avalanche Problem

Persistent weak layer

1800m

Persistent weak layer problem in the northern sector!

The avalanche risk is rated 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

In the higher elevations, older wind slab snow lies in the northern and eastern exposures on an unstable snowpack with weak layers of faceted crystals and floating snow. On the sunny slopes, the snowpack is mostly settled and quite compact. Due to outgoing longwave radiation, surface hoar continues to grow, especially in shady areas.

Tendency

Several disturbances will cause changeable weather at the weekend. Already on Saturday there will be temporary unproductive snowfall, then from Sunday afternoon an Adriatic low will bring new fallen snow to the mountains. The avalanche risk will hardly change until the snowfall on Sunday.

Danger level

Avalanche Problem

Persistent weak layer

Low avalanche danger, isolated avalanche prone locations on 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 can form and hard. The snow base, fundament is set and compact. In extremely steep gullies on shady slopes, the snow base, fundament is sometimes weakened by angular shapes, but these areas are rare.