Danger level

2000m

Persistent weak layer		2000m
Wind slab		2200m

Avalanche prone locations in persistent weak layers are rare but have serious consequences, snowdrift accumulations are prone to triggering at altitude

The avalanche risk is moderate above 2000 metres and low below that. Above 2200 m, avalanches can be triggered by individuals in wind slabs, in particular in aspects from north-west to north to north-east. Danger areas are easily recognisable, they are located behind terrain edges and in steep gullies and bowls. 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 still 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

Fresh wind slabs can form at high altitudes. Older snowdrift accumulations have often stabilised well up to high altitudes. In places (on shady slopes, in high alpine locations also on sunny slopes), however, they are still prone to triggering. Faceted crystals on a crust serve as a weak layer near the surface below the wind slab. Faceted crystals on crusts can also be found deeper in the snowpack, while the snowpack near the ground consists of angular, cup-shaped crystals. The connection at the transition to the deep snowpack near the ground is still poor. Deep and sunny middle layers are once again bare.

Tendency

Gradual settlement of the snowdrift accumulations.

Danger level

1900m

Persistent weak layer		1900m
Wind slab		1900m

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 weaken the snow layering. 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

2000m

Persistent weak layer

2000m

Be careful, especially on shady slopes and extremely steep terrain!

The avalanche risk is moderate above 2000 metres and low below that. Persistent weak layers are problematic. Avalanche prone locations are in very steep terrain with aspects from west to north to east. Slab avalanches can occasionally be triggered there with little additional load. They usually remain small, so the danger of being swept away is greater than the danger of being buried. On very steep, shady slopes, slab avalanches can be triggered in rare cases with a large additional load, for example by a small, superficial avalanche in deep-lying weak layers, and then reach medium size. Sunlight can trigger small, wet loose snow avalanches from extremely steep terrain.

Snowpack

On the western, northern and eastern slopes at higher altitudes, weak layers can be found under older wind slabs near the surface in some places. On shady slopes at higher altitudes, weak layers of large, faceted crystals are preserved deep in the compact old snowpack. On the northern sides of the higher elevations, the snow is still powdery on the surface in areas sheltered from the wind. Overall there is little snow, the southern sides are thinning out more and more.

Tendency

The avalanche danger hardly changes.

Danger level

2000m

Persistent weak layer		2000m
Wind slab		2200m

Pay attention to weak persistent layers and wind slabs at altitude

The avalanche risk is moderate above 2000 m and low below. Above 2000 m, medium slab avalanches can be triggered by individuals in a few places in the aspects from west to north to east. Such avalanche prone locations are rare but not recognisable in the terrain. Take particular care at the transitions from little to more snow. Above 2200 m, avalanches can be triggered by individuals in wind slabs in a few places, in particular in the aspects from north-west to north to north-east. Danger areas are easily recognisable, they are located adjacent to ridgelines behind terrain edges as well as in steep gullies and bowls. Avalanches can occasionally reach medium size.

Snowpack

Fresh wind slabs can form at high altitudes. Older snowdrift accumulations have often stabilised well up to high altitudes. In shady high altitudes, however, they are still prone to triggering. Faceted crystals on a crust serve as a weak layer near the surface below the wind slab. Faceted crystals on crusts can also be found deeper in the snowpack; near the ground, the snowpack consists of angular, cup-shaped crystals. The connection at the transition to the deep snowpack near the ground is still poor. Deep and sunny middle layers are once again bare.

Tendency

Gradual settlement of the snowdrift accumulations. Gradual settlement of the snowdrift accumulations.

Danger level

2200m

Wind slab		2200m
Persistent weak layer		2200m

Older snowdrifts frequently still prone to triggering

Older snowdrifts 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, in high alpine regions they include west, east-facing slopes as well. 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.

Snowpack

The snowdrift accumulations of last week have increasingly consolidated, especially on sunny slopes. Only at higher altitudes are they often deposited atop an unfavorable old snowpack surface, where they can be triggered. On steep south-facing slopes there is often a melt-freeze crust capable of bearing loads which softens up during daytime hours. 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 not expected to change significantly in the early part of the week.

Danger level

1600m

Wind slab		1600m
Persistent weak layer		1800m

Freshly blown snow

Snowfall in the mountains has ranged from 5 to 20 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 has been blowing, carrying fresh snow and building up new snow layers in the south and west. The new fallen snow was 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 layering. In addition to new fallen snow, weak layers in the snowpack deeper in the snowpack can be a problem in places. These weak layers are more prevalent 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.4: cold following warm / warm following cold

As the weather cooled, the older snow base froze. Dry and light snow, carried by the wind, has fallen on harder ground. During the snowfall, the local fall of Graupel, which can form a new weak layer, has also occurred. Due to the influence of the sun, the snow on the Sunny slopes has already become black and froze during the night. On Sunday, due to increased cloud cover, the snow will be mostly absent, with the exception of lower elevations. In the old snow cover, the layers of snow are mostly well connected, with a Crust on top that can mostly support the weight of a pedestrian. Deep below the surface, there are several weak layers of shreds and truncated grains.

Tendency

Monday will be moderately cloudy with occasional sunny spells. Some variable cloud during the day, with some snow showers not ruled out. It will be slightly warmer. The danger of avalanches will remain similar.

Danger level

1800m

Wind slab		1800m
Persistent weak layer		2000m

Local avalanche prone locations due to wind slab and a few due to the persistent weak layer problem!

The avalanche risk is moderate at high altitudes. There are still localised avalanche prone locations in the steep terrain at high altitudes, especially adjacent to ridgelines, behind ridges and in steep bowls and gullies. Here, snowdrift accumulations, as small to rarely medium slab avalanches, can sometimes still be triggered by low additional loads. In a few places in the steep terrain at high altitudes, slab avalanches could still be triggered due to the problem of old snow.

Snowpack

In the higher elevations, there are still localised snowdrift accumulations that can be prone to triggering. The snowpack is mostly stable, up to high altitudes in the centre it is partly moist. At high altitudes and on shady slopes, the snow base, fundament is partly weakened.

Tendency

No significant change.

Danger level

2000m

Persistent weak layer

2000m

Note the persistent weak layer

The avalanche risk is low. Above 2000 m, medium slab avalanches can be triggered in a few places in the aspects from west to north to east, in particular due to large additional loads. Such avalanche prone locations are rare but not recognisable in the terrain. Take particular care at the transitions from little to more snow. In summit locations, avalanches can still be triggered by individuals in wind slabs, in particular in the aspects from north-west to north to north-east. Danger areas are easily recognisable, avalanches remain small. The risk of falling generally outweighs the risk of burial.

Snowpack

Fresh wind slabs may still form at high altitudes. Older snowdrift accumulations have mostly stabilised well up to high altitudes. Occasionally, faceted layers can be found underneath drift snow packs. Faceted crystals can also be found on crusts deeper in the snowpack; near the ground, the snowpack consists of angular, cup-shaped crystals. The connection at the transition to the deep snowpack near the ground is still poor. Deep and sunny middle layers are once again bare.

Tendency

No significant change.

Danger level

1900m

Wind slab		1900m
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

1800m

Wind slab

1800m

Beware small snowdrifts

Avalanche danger is generally low. Caution is urged towards older snowdrift accumulations particularly in ridgeline terrain on north-facing slopes and in wind-loaded gullies and bowls. In addition, isolated avalanches can be triggered by large additional loading in extremely steep terrain. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the danger of being swept along and forced to take a fall require attentiveness.

Snowpack

The fresh small snowdrifts generated last week 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 not expected to change significantly in the early part of the week.

Danger level

treeline

Wind slab

Treeline

Pay attention to exposed steep terrain at high altitudes!

The avalanche risk is mostly low. Nevertheless, there are a few avalanche prone locations due to wind slab. Occasionally, slab avalanches can still be triggered in the ridgeline and summit area, behind terrain edges and in steep bowls and gullies. The persistent weak layer problem can only occur very rarely on shady slopes and high up in extreme terrain.

Snowpack

In the ridgelines and summits, there are still snowdrift accumulations in places that could be disturbed. The old snowpack is mostly stable, up to high altitudes in the centre it is partly moist. At very high altitudes, the snow base, fundament is occasionally weakened.

Tendency

Despite some new fallen snow, the avalanche situation hardly changes.

Danger level

Mostly favourable conditions with little snow

The avalanche risk is low. In the entrance areas of steep gullies on shady slopes, snow slabs can occasionally be triggered in persistent weak layers. The risk of being swept away and falling on icy surfaces that may be thinly covered with snow and therefore difficult to recognise generally outweighs the risk of burial.

Snowpack

It is snowing heavily. The new and wind slab snow from the beginning of the week has stabilised well. 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 are free of snow again.

Tendency

No significant change in avalanche danger.

Danger level

The southern sides are largely covered in snow.

The avalanche risk is low. On the northern sides of the highest peaks and areas adjacent to the summit and ridge, older snowdrift accumulations with low additional loads can be triggered as small slab avalanches.

Snowpack

Older wind slab snow has usually bonded well with the old snow surface. In the highest areas adjacent to the ridgeline, crest or summit, it can still be prone to triggering on shady slopes. The snowpack is generally well stabilised and slightly moist. The snow is still powdery on the surface on steep north-facing slopes at higher altitudes. Overall there is little snow, the south-facing slopes are largely snowed out.

Tendency

The avalanche danger does not change.

Danger level

treeline

Wind slab

Treeline

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.