2021-02-10T17:00:00+00:00 avalanche-warnings.eu 2021-02-10T23:00:00+00:00 2021-02-11T23:00:00+00:00 2 1 drifting snow near ridgelines, thin, small old snow very few backcountry danger zones Fresh, generally thin, small snowdrift accumulations Avalanche danger above 1400 m is MODERATE, due to fresh snowdrifts. These are easily triggered in very steep terrain. They are easy to recognize (east-facing slopes, gullies), are small-spread, of limited depth, can easily be circumvented (primarily dangerous to sweep a skier along and force a fall). The concealed old-snow problem can lead to triggerings on isolated steep and extremely steep slopes (above 40° gradients) by large additional loading where the snow is shallow (NW-NE-E aspects). About 10 cm of cold fresh snow, transported by W/NW winds to open terrain above the treeline. The old snowpack beneath it is compact. Potential weak layers inside the old snow are generally well covered, i.e. unlikely to trigger. Bitter cold: at 1500 m, -15 degrees. Winds will make it feel still colder. In the morning, poor visibility, lots of fog, light snowfall. In the afternoon, skies will brighten somewhat. Towards evening, a bit of sunshine is possible. Icy cold NW wind at 30 km/hr. Temperature disparities in the uppermost layers of the snowpack will change the snow over the next few days. 2021-02-10T17:00:00+00:00 avalanche-warnings.eu 2021-02-10T23:00:00+00:00 2021-02-11T23:00:00+00:00 2 1 drifting snow near ridgeilnes, mostly thin, small, above 1600 m old snow avoid northern aspects where snow is shallow above 1800 m Mixture of snowdrift problem and old-snow problem The fresh snowdrift accumulations are easily triggered in very steep terrain. Avalanche prone locations are easily recognized (east-facing slopes, gullies). They are small-spread, of limited depth, easily circumvented (primarily a danger to sweep skiers along or force a fall). The concealed old-snow problem can lead to triggerings on extremely steep slopes (above 40° gradients) by large additional loading in shallow-snow zones in NW-NE-E aspects. Such slabs, not easily triggered, could grow to medium-to-large size. About 10 cm of fresh snow was registered, transported by W/NW winds into open terrain above the treeline. The old snowpack beneath the drifts is compact in wind-exposed terrain, encrusted in sunny terrain, with old powder on north-facing slopes which has been partially transported by strong winds in the interim. Deeper-down potential weak layers in the old snow are generally well covered, thus, triggerable mainly in N/E aspects at 1800-2200 m. Bitter cold: at 2000 m, -19 degrees; at 3000 m, -21 degrees. Winds will intensify the feeling of cold. In the morning, a few residual clouds, occasional snowflakes. As of midday, clouds will disperse, the sun come out. Icy NW winds at 30 km/hr, above 2200 m at 40 km/hr. Little change as the weekend nears. Clear nocturnal skies, very cold snowpack surfaces. The situation is being preserved by the cold, although temperature disparities in the uppermost layers of the snowpack will change the snow situation in the coming few days. 2021-02-10T17:00:00+00:00 avalanche-warnings.eu 2021-02-10T23:00:00+00:00 2021-02-11T23:00:00+00:00 3 2 drifting snow wide-ranging in some areas, near to and distant from ridgelines, easily triggered old snow triggerable in steep terrain where snow is shallow Wide-ranging snowdrift accumulations in many directions Above 1800 m danger of slab avalanches is CONSIDERABLE. Main problem: freshly generated snowdrift accumulations. The fresh snowdrifts are triggerable on steep to very steep slopes and in gullies even by the weight of one single skier. Avalanche prone locations are found both near to and distant from ridgelines, wherever the northerly wind reaches, also at forest edges and lower down. This applies to all aspects. Avalanches triggering from drifts are medium-to-large in size. If worse comes to worst, triggered avalanches can fracture down deep in the old snowpack and grow to large size. Due to the old-snow problem, very steep to extremely steep zones are quite treacherous wherever snow is shallow or in transitions to windblown zones. In zones where snowfall has been heavy or which are themselves very steep, isolated naturally triggered loose-snow and slab avalanches are possible. The fresh, cold snow (15-20 cm) and the previous round of snowfall are being transported by strong winds from varying directions (recently from the south, currently from the north) over widespread areas. The fresh snowdrift accumulations are prone to triggering. On the one hand, there is loose powder; on the other, the drifts atop a thin melt-freeze crust. Inside the old snow, in additional, weak layers are persisting. These ugly layers are 95% well covered. Bitter cold: at 2000 m, -19 degrees; at 3000 m, -21 degrees. Strong winds are intensifying the feeling of cold. During the morning, clouds will disperse, south of the Tauern even sooner. Generally sunny in the afternoon. On the Main Alpine Ridge and in Lungau, storm-strength northerly winds will be blowing (60 km/hr) which can extend to below the timberline. No significant change in avalanche danger is anticipated to begin with. Wide-ranging snowdrifts will continue to be the major threat. It will remain very cold, the northerly wind will endure for awhile. Restraint and knowledge of local terrain are imperative.