Regions
Sexten Dolomites, Schnals Ridge, Southern Stubai Alps, Southern Zillertal Alps and High Tauern, Saldurn-Mastaun Ridge, Texel Mountains, Sarntal Alps, Western Pfunderer Mountains, Eastern Pfunderer Mountains, Durreck Range, Western Rieserferner Mountains, Western Deferegger Alps, Central Stubai Alps, Ortler Range, Northern Zillertal Alps, Ulten Valley, Venediger Range, Eastern Nonsberger Alps, Eastern Rieserferner Mountains, Northern Dolomites of Fiemme, Glockner Range, Gröden Dolomites, Eastern Deferegger Alps, Prags Dolomites, Schober Mountains, Lienzer Dolomites
Danger level
Avalanche Problem
Gliding snow above 2600m, E-SE-S-SW-W
Wind-drifted snow above 2400m, N-NE-NW
Caution is to be exercised in areas with glide cracks. Fresh wind slabs require caution, in particular adjacent to ridgelines above approximately 2400 m.
On steep grassy slopes the danger of gliding avalanches will decrease a little to level 2 (moderate). More gliding avalanches are possible, even quite large ones, especially on sunny slopes below approximately 2600 m. Areas with glide cracks are to be avoided as far as possible. As a consequence of warming there will be only a slight increase in the danger of gliding avalanches.
As a consequence of a sometimes strong southwesterly wind, sometimes avalanche prone wind slabs will form in particular in the regions exposed to the foehn wind. They can be released by a single winter sport participant in some cases especially on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2400 m. They are mostly small. The fresh wind slabs are clearly recognisable to the trained eye. Caution is to be exercised in particular adjacent to ridgelines.
Old wind slabs are now only very rarely prone to triggering in high Alpine regions.
The snow sport conditions outside marked and open pistes are generally favourable.
Snowpack
dp 2: gliding snow
dp 6: cold, loose snow and wind
The snowpack will be moist at low and intermediate altitudes. The fresh wind slabs are lying on soft layers in particular on shady slopes above approximately 2400 m. The somewhat older wind slabs have bonded well with the old snowpack in all aspects. Faceted weak layers exist deep in the old snowpack above approximately 3000 m.
Tendency
Gliding snow represents the main danger.