2022-01-03T17:00:00+00:00 avalanche-warnings.eu 2022-01-03T23:00:00+00:00 2022-01-04T23:00:00+00:00 1 old snow only very isolated spots triggerable at edges of gullies, bowls, most above 2200 m gliding snow seldom, in extremely steep terrain Isolated glide-snow avalanches, small-area persistent weak layer Avalanche danger is LOW. Below 2400 m the main danger is from very isolated glide-snow avalanches (mostly small, seldom medium-sized) in extremely steep grass-covered terrain. At high altitudes, esp. above 2400 m, there are isolated avalanche prone locations for slab avalanches: steep slopes distant from ridgeline and very steep gullies, particularly in N/E/S aspects. Caution in transitions from shallow to deeper snow. Below 2200 m the snowpack is often very moist and glides over smooth grassy ground. It often has a breakable melt-freeze crust, sometime unpleasantly cut. Lower temperatures and lack of solar radiation on Monday will hardly permit the snow to transform to firn, including on sunny slopes. At high altitudes the surfaces show striking effects of wind: windblown, wind-hardened, wind swirls, etc. Only in high alpine regions are there small snowdrift patches formed by W winds. A potential fracture point (faceted, soft) is located beneath the melt-freeze crusts, elsewhere the old snowpack is not prone to triggering. The minimal precipitation on Monday will not be avalanche-relevant. On Tuesday, heavy cloud until past midday, light conditions diffuse. In high alpine regions, somewhat reduced visibility, improving in the afternoon. At high altitudes from Steinberge eastwards, southerly winds blowing at 40-60 km/hr. It will turn mild again: at 2000 m: 3 to 7 degrees; at 3000 m: -2 degrees. On Wednesday, snowfall right from the start, visibility often quite limited. By evening, 15-30 cm expected, on Steinernen Meer/Hochkönig up to 40 cm. Intensifying winds (40-60 km/hr) will transport the fresh snow. At 2000 m, dropping from -3 to -10 degreers; at 3000 m from -6 to -15 degrees. Pronounced snowdrift problem at high altitudes plus poor visibility on Wednesday require experience in avalanche assessment on-site. 2022-01-03T17:00:00+00:00 avalanche-warnings.eu 2022-01-03T23:00:00+00:00 2022-01-04T23:00:00+00:00 1 drifting snow thin snowdrift patches, small but easily triggered - risk of falling gliding snow below 2400m, seldom, in extremely steep terrain Fresh drifts in high alpine regions (southerly foehn wind) Avalanche danger is LOW. In high alpine regions, the danger stems from currently generating snowdrifts (foehn), easily triggered but small and shallow, bringing a greater risk of falls. At high altitudes (above 2200 m) isolated avalanche prone locations for slab triggerings in the old snow in steep terrain distant from ridgelines and in very steep gullies, esp. in N/E/W aspects. Caution in transitions from shallow to deeper snow. Below 2400 m the main danger is from isolated glide-snow avalanches (mostly small, seldom medium-sized) on extremely steep grassy slopes. Below 2200 m the snowpack is extremely moist, has regained firmness from the alternating temperatures. It often has a breakable melt-freeze crust, sometime unpleasantly cut. At high altitudes the surfaces show striking effects of wind: windblown, wind-hardened, wind swirls, etc. Only in high alpine regions are there small snowdrift patches formed by W/N winds, currently by foehn. A potential fracture point (faceted, soft) is located beneath the melt-freeze crusts, elsewhere the old snowpack is not prone to triggering. On Tuesday, heavy cloud until past midday, light conditions diffuse. In high alpine regions, somewhat reduced visibility, improving in the afternoon. Southerly foehn blowing at 50-70 km/hr along the Tauern, elsewhere also windy. It will turn mild again: at 2000 m: 0 to 6 degrees; at 3000 m: -1 degree. On Wednesday, snowfall right from the start, visibility often quite limited. By evening, 15 cm expected in the Lungau, elsewhere 20-40 cm. Intensifying winds (50-80 km/hr) shifting to westerly/northerly, will transport the fresh snow. At 2000 m, dropping from -3 to -10 degrees; at 3000 m from -6 to -15 degrees. Pronounced snowdrift problem at high altitudes plus poor visibility on Wednesday require experience in avalanche assessment on-site.