2021-01-27T17:00:00+00:00 avalanche-warnings.eu 2021-01-27T17:00:00+00:00 2021-01-28T17:00:00+00:00 2021-01-27T00:00:00+00:00 2021-01-27T12:00:00+00:00 3 2021-01-27T12:00:00+00:00 2021-01-28T00:00:00+00:00 4 drifting snow wet snow as rain sets in, rapidly rising snowfall level, daytime cycle of naturally triggered avalanche activity Warm front: fresh snow, followed by rainfall up to high altitudes. Avalanche danger rising! Initially the main danger stems from snowdrifts on E-S facing slopes, also in gullies, bowls, behind protruberances in other aspects. A further danger is the rainfall on top of the fresh snowpack which will lead to naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches particularly on steep slopes, hillsides and in forest lanes. Moreover, at high altitudes the weak snowpack can break beneath the weight of the additional load of fresh snow on shady slopes. Since last weekend there have been several bouts of snowfall (all in all, up to 60 cm) deposited on the melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack. Stormy winds deposited new snowdrifts on east and south-facing slopes in particular. Weak layers of hoar and melt-freeze crusts, as well as softened intermediate layers, make the snowpack prone to triggering. The approaching rain atop the cold snowpack will have a terrible effect on the stability of the snowpack. Older weak layers of faceted crystals and ground-level depth hoar are frequently found on shady slopes at higher altitude. Through the weight of the fresh snow, these layers can break. On Thursday, a warm front will reach the Eastern Alps. During the night, rainfall will set in, while the snowfall level is still at the valley floor. Following a break in precipitation, heavy rainfall and snowfall will recommence during the afternoon, the snowfall level will ascend by evening to 1500 m. Stormy westerly winds will be added to the brew. Temperature at midday at 2000 m: -3 degrees; at 1500 m, -1 degree. By Saturday in the Dachstein and Totes Gebirge region, 60 mm of rainfall is expected. The snowfall level will ascend further on Friday. HIGH avalanche danger. 2021-01-27T17:00:00+00:00 avalanche-warnings.eu 2021-01-27T17:00:00+00:00 2021-01-28T17:00:00+00:00 3 drifting snow wet snow rapidly ascending snowfall level as rain sets in. Wet-snow avalanches on steep slopes and hillsides, and from wooded zones Warm front: fresh snow and later, rainfall up to high altitudes. Rising avalanche danger. Initially the main danger stems from snowdrifts on E-S facing slopes, also in gullies, bowls, behind protruberances in other aspects. A further danger is the rainfall on top of the fresh snowpack which will lead to naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches particularly on steep slopes, hillsides and in forest lanes. Moreover, at high altitudes the weak snowpack can break beneath the weight of the additional load of fresh snow on shady slopes. Since last weekend there have been several bouts of snowfall (all in all, up to 60 cm) deposited on the melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack. Stormy winds deposited new snowdrifts on east and south-facing slopes in particular. Weak layers of hoar and melt-freeze crusts, as well as softened intermediate layers, make the snowpack prone to triggering. The approaching rain atop the cold snowpack will have a terrible effect on the stability of the snowpack. Older weak layers of faceted crystals and ground-level depth hoar are frequently found on shady slopes at higher altitude. Through the weight of the fresh snow, these layers can break. On Thursday, a warm front will reach the Eastern Alps. During the night, rainfall will set in, while the snowfall level is still at the valley floor. Following a break in precipitation, heavy rainfall and snowfall will recommence during the afternoon, the snowfall level will ascend by evening to 1500 m. Stormy westerly winds will be added to the brew. Temperature at midday at 2000 m: -3 degrees; at 1500 m, -1 degree. By Saturday in the Hochschwab and northern Niedere Tauern regions, 30-40 mm of precipitation is expected. The snowfall level will ascend further on Friday. Extremely unfavourable avalanche situation. 2021-01-27T17:00:00+00:00 avalanche-warnings.eu 2021-01-27T17:00:00+00:00 2021-01-28T17:00:00+00:00 3 2 drifting snow wet snow rapidly rising snowfall level as rain sets in. Slides on steep slopes and hillsides Considerable avalanche danger due to snowdrifts above the treeline In Gurktal and Seetal Alps, and the Wölz and Seckau Tauern, considerable avalanche danger prevails above the forested zones. Avalanche prone locations tend to increase with nearness to the Main Alpine Ridge, they occur primarily on very steep N-E-S facing slopes, particularly in wind-loaded gullies. A slab avalanche can be triggered even by the weight of one single skier. Furthermore, the rain can cause the entire snowpack to glide away on steep hillsides. The still loose snow from last weekend plus the fresh snow from Tuesday and Wednesday has been transported by stormy W/NW winds, deposited as brittle snowdrifts primarily on E-S facing slopes. A potential weak layer with surface hoar which formed on Sunday night beneath clear, cold skies is also a threat. Older weak layers of faceted crystals and a ground-level layer of depth hoar are found on shady slopes at higher altitudes. With increasing nearness to the Main Alpine Ridge, the rain can have very unfavourable effects on the cold snowpack and its stability. On Thursday, a warm front will reach the Eastern Alps. During the night, rainfall will set in, while the snowfall level is still at the valley floor. Following a break in precipitation, heavy rainfall and snowfall will recommence during the afternoon, the snowfall level will ascend by evening to 1500 m. Stormy westerly winds will be added to the brew. Temperature at midday at 2000 m: -3 degrees; at 1500 m, -1 degree. Also on Friday afternoon, minor precipitation is possible, mostly rain. Through the mild temperatures, tensions inside the snowpack are reduced, on the one hand. On the other, the danger of naturally triggered avalanches remains upright. 2021-01-27T17:00:00+00:00 avalanche-warnings.eu 2021-01-27T17:00:00+00:00 2021-01-28T17:00:00+00:00 2 1 drifting snow wet snow isolated slides in the evening as rainfall sets in Moderate avalanche danger above the timberline In Mürztal Alps and along the Styrian rimline ranges, avalanche prone locations are evident above the treeline, particularly in N-E-S aspects. In regions where there is rainfall, snow can glide over steep hillsides naturally. The still loose snow from last weekend plus the fresh snow from Tuesday and Wednesday has been transported by stormy W/NW winds, deposited as brittle snowdrifts primarily on E-S facing slopes. A potential weak layer with surface hoar which formed on Sunday night beneath clear, cold skies is also a threat. Older weak layers of faceted crystals and a ground-level layer of depth hoar are found on shady slopes at higher altitudes. With increasing nearness to the Main Alpine Ridge, the rain can have very unfavourable effects on the cold snowpack and its stability (even though no great amounts of rainfall are forecast). On Thursday it will initially be sunny. In the afternoon, cloud cover will become heavier, light snowfall will set in. At night, the precipitation will be light and minor, the snowfall level will ascend swiftly to 2000 m amid stormy winds. Temperatures will reach -5 degrees at midday at 2000 m; at 1500 m, -2 degrees. Friday conditions will be instable, isolated rain showers are expected. On Saturday, temperatures will drop slightly. Through the brief spell of higher temperatures, tensions inside the snowpack can diminish.