2022-01-06T17:00:00+00:00 avalanche-warnings.eu 2022-01-06T23:00:00+00:00 2022-01-07T23:00:00+00:00 3 2 drifting snow near to and distant from ridgelines, often on unfavorable base, often easily triggered, watch for signs of wind Treacherous snowdrift problem above treeline The snowdrift problem above 2000 m is CONSIDERABLE, below that altitude it is generally MODERATE. Avalanche prone locations above the treeline. Higher altitude are often utterly windblown. Danger zones therefore in gullies and bowls, also in NE/S/W aspects distant from ridgelines. Even minimum additional loading can trigger and avalanche, e.g. one single ascending skier, and avalanches can grow to large size. Above 1500 m there is 20-40 cm of fresh snow, on the Main Tauern Ridge up to 50 cm of fresh snow, deposited atop an old, melt-freeze encrusted snowpack surface. Bonding of new snow to old snow is generally good. The soft layer just beneath the crust (faceted crystals from December ) is easily triggered (listen for settling noises). Much more easily triggered are the most recent snowdrift accumulations which on Wednesday and Thursday were deposited atop loose and cold layers, sometimes riddled with graupel. inside this layer there were several releases on Thursday, some artificial, some triggered by skiers. On Friday, light winds, sunshine, perfect visibility. In the afternoon, high-altitude clouds will move in, by evening some light snowfall is possible. At 2000 m: -9 degrees; at 3000 m: -11 to -14 degrees. On Saturday, clouds and sunshine will alternate, the summits will remain free towards the south. At high altitudes, brisk NW winds (up to 40 km/hr). At 2000 m: -8 to -10 degrees; at 3000 m_ -18 to -13 degrees. Little change on Saturday, Main problem: recent snowpack accumulations and those which will be generated on Saturday. 2022-01-06T17:00:00+00:00 avalanche-warnings.eu 2022-01-06T23:00:00+00:00 2022-01-07T23:00:00+00:00 2 1 drifting snow primarily near ridgelines, also in gullies, steep bowls Caution in very steep ridgeline terrain The snowdrift problem above the treeline is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is LOW. Avalanche prone locations are located in steep ridgeline terrain, in gullies, steep bowls and on very steep NE/E/S facing slopes where an avalanche can be triggered by large additional loading, e.g. going on foot, jumping, no distances maintained, and triggered avalanches can grow to medium size. There is 10-25 cm of fresh snow lying atop an old, melt-freeze encrusted old snowpack surface. Bonding is generally good. The soft layer beneath the crust (faceted crystals from December ) is not easily triggered. Where the NW winds on Wednesday and Thursday had an impact on Thursday, snowdrifts have accumulated which were often deposited atop loose and cold powder snow. On Friday, light winds, sunshine, perfect visibility. In the afternoon, high-altitude clouds will move in, by evening some light snowfall is possible. At 2000 m: -9 degrees; at 3000 m: -11 to -14 degrees. On Saturday, clouds and sunshine will alternate, the summits will remain free towards the south. At high altitudes, brisk NW winds (up to 40 km/hr). At 2000 m: -8 to -10 degrees; at 3000 m_ -18 to -13 degrees. Little change on Saturday, Main problem: recent snowpack accumulations and those which will be generated on Saturday. 2022-01-06T17:00:00+00:00 avalanche-warnings.eu 2022-01-06T23:00:00+00:00 2022-01-07T23:00:00+00:00 3 1 drifting snow near to and distant from ridgelines, often on unfavorable base, often easily triggered, watch for signs of wind Considerable snowdrift problem. AVOID steep wind-impacted terrain. The snowdrift problem above 2000 m is CONSIDERABLE, below that altitude danger is LOW. Avalanche prone locations depend on where the most recent wind impact had its effects. In wind-protected terrain the conditions are favorable. Where recent NW winds blew (often above 2000 m) the avalanche prone locations are concentrated in steep ridgeline terrain. Therefore: watch for signs of recent wind! This applies to gullies, steep bowls, very steep slopes in NE/S/SW aspects. An avalanche can be triggered even by minimum additional loading, i.e. one sole skier, and then grow to large size. Above 1500 m there is 20-40 cm of fresh snow, on the Main Tauern Ridge up to 50 cm of fresh snow, deposited atop an old, melt-freeze encrusted snowpack surface. Bonding of new snow to old snow is generally good. The soft layer just beneath the crust (faceted crystals from December ) is not easily triggered. Much more easily triggered are the most recent snowdrift accumulations which on Wednesday and Thursday were deposited atop loose and cold layers, sometimes riddled with graupel. inside this layer there were several releases on Thursday, some artificial, some triggered by skiers. On Friday, light winds, sunshine, perfect visibility. In the afternoon, high-altitude clouds will move in, by evening some light snowfall is possible. At 2000 m: -9 degrees; at 3000 m: -11 to -14 degrees. On Saturday, clouds and sunshine will alternate, the summits will remain free towards the south. At high altitudes, brisk NW winds (up to 40 km/hr). At 2000 m: -8 to -10 degrees; at 3000 m_ -18 to -13 degrees. Little change on Saturday, Main problem: recent snowpack accumulations and those which will be generated on Saturday.