Avalanche danger is moderate at higher altitudes, elsewhere danger is low. Older snowdrift accumulations require caution. They occur primarily on ridgeline north-facing slopes and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. In addition. isolated avalanches can be triggered by large additional loading. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the danger of being swept along and forced to take a fall require caution. Due to solar radiation, wet slides and small avalanches are possible on very steep sunny slopes.
Snowpack
The fresh snow from the weekend and small snowdrifts generated over the last few days have bonded well with the old snowpack surface. On steep shady slopes, bonding is often only moderate. On steep south-facing slopes there is often a melt-freeze crust capable of bearing loads. The old snowpack is generally well-settled and compact.
Tendency
Avalanche danger expected to continue diminishing
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Small snowdrifts are frequently still prone to triggering
Fresh snowdrifts of recent days are frequently still prone to triggering, can be triggered even by minimum additional loading as small-to-medium sized slab avalanches. Danger zones occur primarily on steep ridgeline north-facing slopes and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. Frequency and spread of avalanche prone locations increase with ascending altitude. If avalanches on high-altitude shady slopes fracture down to deeper weak layers, they can in isolated cases then grow to medium size. Such avalanche prone locations occur primarily in spots where the snow is shallow or in transitions from shallow to deep snow. Due to solar radiation, wet slides and small avalanches are possible on very steep sunny slopes.
Snowpack
The fresh snow has bonded well with the widespread melt-freeze crust. Fresh small-to-medium sized snowdrifts of recent days have increasingly consolidated, especially on sunny slopes. On steep south-facing slopes there is a melt-freeze crust capable of bearing loads. The mid-level part of the snowpack consists of well-settled, compact layers widespread which on high-altitude shady slopes cover a poorly structured old snowpack fundament.
Tendency
Avalanche danger is not immediately expected to change significantly.
Danger level
1600m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1600m
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Freshly blown snow
Snowfall in the mountains has ranged from 5 to 15 cm in recent days, with slightly more in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps and the Karavanke Mountains. At the same time, a strong north-easterly wind is blowing, carrying fresh snow and building up new snow layers in the south and west. The new fallen snow is less able to adhere to the older snow base. The danger is higher especially on slopes and in gullies where the height of the New fallen snow is greater due to the snow layers.
In addition to new fallen snow, weak layers in the snowpack deeper in the snowpack are a problem. These weak layers are more numerous in the axis above the forest. In particular, a large avalanche can be triggered if the load exceeds the load-bearing capacity of these layers.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
As the weather cooled, the older snow base froze. Dry and light snow has fallen on harder ground and is now carried by the wind. During the snowfall, the local fall of graupel may also have provided a new weak layer. The snow will have already become somewhat thinner on sunny slopes due to the influence of the sun.
In the old snow cover, the layers of snow are mostly well connected, with a Crust on top, which mostly supports the skier's weight. Deep below the surface, there are several weak layers of faceted snow crystals and sheared grains.
Tendency
On Saturday it will be cloudy and often foggy on higher peaks. There will be light snow at times and light rain below about 1200 m. Precipitation will be light. There will be light to moderate easterly winds. Avalanche danger will remain similar.
Danger level
2000m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
2000m
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Wind slabs are still prone to triggering, especially at high altitudes.
The avalanche risk is moderate above 2000 metres and low below. Wind slabs are the main problem. This can be triggered as a small, occasionally medium slab avalanche with low additional load. The avalanche prone locations increase with altitude and are mainly located in steep terrain adjacent to ridgelines with aspects from west to north to east as well as in gullies and bowls.
On a few shaded steep slopes at high altitudes, medium slab avalanches can also be triggered in persistent weak layers with a high additional load.
Small loose snow avalanches can detach themselves from the steep terrain interspersed with rocks. Smaller gliding avalanches are possible on smooth, steep meadow slopes.
Snowpack
As the altitude increases, the wind slab snow of the last few days lies partly prone to triggering on soft layers of snow or a thin crust. However, it often lies directly on a load-bearing, crusted can form surface of old snow with which it has bonded well. On shady slopes at high altitudes, weak layers of faceted crystals can be found deep in the otherwise compact old snowpack in some places. A melt-freeze crust forms overnight in the middle and southern slopes of the high altitudes, which quickly softens again during the day. The southern sides of the middle elevations are largely bare, with little snow overall.
Tendency
Little change in avalanche danger.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Avoid fresh wind slab, persistent weak layer problem in shady high altitudes
The avalanche risk is moderate above the tree line and low below. In the aspects from west to north to south-east, avalanches can easily be triggered by individuals in wind slabs. Danger areas are located behind terrain edges as well as in steep gullies and bowls, also in the forest boundary area. Avalanches can occasionally reach medium size. Above 2000 m, avalanches can still be triggered in persistent weak layers in a few places in the aspects from west to north to east and occasionally become large. Such avalanche prone locations are rare, but cannot be recognised in the terrain. Take particular care at the transitions from little to more snow.
Snowpack
Since the beginning of the week, 15 to 30 cm of new fallen snow (occasionally with graupel) has fallen, less in the Nockberge mountains. The wind (most recently mainly from the north-east to east) has been blowing in at times. New and wind slab snow is lying in shady high areas on soft, faceted snow. Away from this, the snow has fallen onto a melt-freeze crust. Deeper in the snowpack, faceted crystals can be found on a crust; close to the ground, the snowpack consists of angular, cup-shaped crystals. The connection at the transition to the deep frost near the ground is still poor.
Tendency
Light snow showers on Saturday afternoon/evening do not change the situation significantly.
The avalanche risk increases with altitude and is moderate above the tree line. The fresh wind slab can easily be triggered by individuals, in particular in the aspects from west to north to east, in high alpine areas partly also in southern aspects. Danger areas are located behind terrain edges as well as in steep gullies and bowls and in the forest boundary area. Avalanches can reach medium size and occasionally become large if they tear through the persistent weak layer.
Above 2000 m, in aspects from west to north to east, medium and occasionally large, dry slab avalanches can be triggered in persistent weak layers in a few places. Although such avalanche prone locations are rare, they are not recognisable in the terrain. Take particular care at the transitions from little to more snow.
Snowpack
At the beginning of the week, 30 to 50 cm of new fallen snow (occasionally with graupel) fell under the influence of variable, sometimes strong winds. New and wind slab snow is lying on soft, faceted snow in shady high altitudes and above around 2800 metres on sunny slopes. Away from this, the snow has fallen on a melt-freeze crust. Deeper in the snowpack, faceted crystals can be found on a crust; close to the ground, the snowpack consists of angular, cup-shaped crystals. The connection at the transition to the deep frost near the ground is still poor.
Tendency
Light snow showers on Saturday afternoon/evening do not change the situation significantly.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
2000m
More new fallen snow than expected. Watch out for fresh wind slab in the higher elevations!
The avalanche risk is moderate at higher altitudes, partly above the tree line. Adjacent to ridgelines, behind terrain edges and in steep bowls and gullies, snowdrift accumulations in steep terrain can still be triggered as small to rarely medium slab avalanches, in some cases due to low additional loads. In the steep terrain on shady slopes, slab avalanches could still be triggered locally due to the problem of old snow.
Snowpack
Due to repeated snowfall in recent days and strong winds from different directions, there are prone to triggering snowdrift accumulations that do not bind sufficiently with the old snowpack. Settlement is progressing slowly. The old snowpack has settled, is moist up to high altitudes and is crusted can form on the surface and hard in places. The snow base, fundament is high and partly weakened on shady slopes. Low and widespread middle elevations are often bare or have very little snow.
Tendency
Despite some new fallen snow, the avalanche situation hardly changes.
Danger level
1800m
Avalanche Problem
Persistent weak layer
1800m
Wind slab
Treeline
Moderate avalanche danger at high altitudes!
The avalanche risk is moderate above 2000 metres and low below. Adjacent to ridgelines, behind terrain edges and in entrances to steep gullies and bowls, smaller slab avalanches can sometimes be triggered by individuals. Medium-sized avalanches are also possible in the northern sector.
Snowpack
The snow base, fundament is largely stable. Only in shady high areas does floating snow still weaken the snow layering. Older wind slabs can be found on the surface in places.
Tendency
Saturday will bring clouds with some new fallen snow. The avalanche danger will hardly change.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Low avalanche danger, but still isolated avalanche prone locations due to fresh pillows of wind drifted snow!
The avalanche risk is low. Nevertheless, above the tree line, isolated pillows of wind drifted snow can be triggered by individuals as small slab avalanches. Avalanche prone locations are areas adjacent to ridgelines and entrances to gullies and bowls.
Snowpack
The snow base, fundament is largely stable. Older wind slabs can be found on the surface on a small scale. Only in shady high altitudes is the snow layering still weakened by isolated floating snow.
Tendency
Saturday will bring clouds with some new fallen snow. The avalanche risk will change only slightly.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
The danger of falling outweighs the danger of burial.
The avalanche risk is low. Small slab avalanches can be triggered in places with little additional load in the wind slab. The few avalanche prone locations are mainly in the steep terrain adjacent to ridgelines in the west, north and east aspects as well as in gullies and bowls.
Individual, small loose snow avalanches can detach themselves from the steep terrain interspersed with rocks. Small gliding avalanches are possible on smooth, steep meadow slopes.
Snowpack
Small-scale wind slab lies partly prone to triggering on a soft layer of snow or on a thin crust. In most cases, however, it is well connected and lies directly on a load-bearing crust can form on the old snow surface or the previously apery ground. At higher altitudes, there are still isolated faceted layers deep in the persistent weak layer on the shady slopes. Overnight, a melt-freeze crust forms on the snow surface, which quickly softens again during the day in the sun. Overall, there is little snow.
Tendency
No change in avalanche danger.
Danger level
1400m
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
1400m
Beware of fresh wind slab, watch out for persistent weak layer problems in shady high altitudes.
The avalanche risk is still low.
Avalanche prone locations are mainly limited to fresh snowdrift accumulations in gullies and bowls as well as in steep terrain adjacent to ridgelines. These are small in scale and irregularly distributed due to the changing wind. They can be triggered as small slab avalanches by individual winter sports enthusiasts.
In addition, the persistent weak layer problem must still be taken into account in shady high altitudes. Weak layers in the lower snow layering can be prone to triggering locally.
Snowpack
The snowpack is mostly stable. There is a well-developed melt-freeze crust on which the fresh snow has deposited as wind slab. Due to wind transport, compact drift snow packs have formed locally, which are prone to triggering on a small scale.
In shady high altitudes, large, faceted crystals are still present in the persistent weak layer in places, weakening the foundation of the snowpack.
Below around 1400 m, and on south-facing slopes below around 1600 m, there is only a little snow.
Tendency
The avalanche danger remains the same. Clouds and fog with some new fallen snow on Saturday. Sunday will be friendlier.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Pay attention to local avalanche prone locations in exposed terrain!
The avalanche risk is predominantly low. Nevertheless, there are localised avalanche prone locations at higher altitudes in many aspects due to prone to triggering snowdrift accumulations. Slab avalanches can be triggered in places by even a small additional load. There are still localised avalanche prone locations on shady slopes at high altitudes due to the problem of old snow. Occasional slab avalanches can still be triggered, especially in transitions from more to less snow.
Snowpack
Due to repeated snowfall in the last few days and strong winds from different directions, there are prone to triggering snowdrift accumulations locally, which do not bind sufficiently with the old snowpack. Settlement is progressing slowly. The old snowpack has settled, is moist up to high altitudes and is crusted can form on the surface and hard in places. The snow base, fundament is high and partly weakened on shady slopes. Low and widespread middle elevations are often bare or have very little snow.
Tendency
Despite some new fallen snow, the avalanche situation hardly changes.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Low avalanche danger, but individual avalanche prone locations due to wind slab!
The avalanche risk is generally low. Nevertheless, there are individual avalanche prone locations, in particular adjacent to ridgelines, behind terrain edges and in entrances to steep, shady gullies and bowls where medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered by individuals.
Snowpack
The snow base, fundament is largely stable. On the surface, there is older wind slab in places, which is usually well bonded to the snow base, fundament. Only in shady high altitudes does floating snow weaken the snow layering.
Tendency
Saturday will bring clouds with some new fallen snow. The avalanche danger will hardly change.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Mostly favourable conditions with little snow
The avalanche risk is low. Above the tree line, mainly small slab avalanches can be triggered in places in the shady steep terrain adjacent to ridgelines due to low additional loads. In addition, in the entrance areas of steep gullies on shady slopes, snow slabs can occasionally be triggered in persistent weak layers. Be careful in the area of terrain traps, where the triggering of a small avalanche can have major consequences.
Snowpack
The connection between new and windslab snow and the well-settled old snowpack is usually good. However, weak layers of overblown new fallen snow near the surface can be encountered on a small scale. In the higher on shady slopes, there are still weak layers of large faceted crystals in the lower part of the snowpack, especially near the ground. Low and sunny mid-altitude areas were largely snowed out before the snowfall.
Tendency
Light snow showers on Saturday afternoon/evening do not change the situation significantly.
