Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for caution. Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.
As a consequence of a strong northwesterly wind, avalanche prone wind slabs will form in all aspects. These can be released even by a single winter sport participant above the tree line. Slopes adjacent to ridgelines are especially unfavourable. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found also in areas close to the tree line. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. The prevalence of avalanche prone locations and likelihood of triggering will increase with altitude. Additionally avalanches can also be released in deep layers. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found on steep, little used shady slopes above approximately 2200 m and on steep sunny slopes above approximately 2500 m.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
On Wednesday the wind will be strong over a wide area. The fresh and older wind slabs will be deposited on soft layers in all aspects. The wind slabs are lying on surface hoar in some places, in particular on the Main Alpine Ridge and to the north. The snowpack will be prone to triggering in some places. Faceted weak layers exist in the old snowpack, especially on shady slopes above approximately 2200 m, as well as on sunny slopes above approximately 2500 m. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack are a clear indication of a weakly bonded snowpack.
Tendency
A lot of snow will fall on Thursday, especially in the northwest and in the High Tauern. Significant increase in avalanche danger as a consequence of new snow and strong wind. The snowpack will become unstable over a wide area.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
2200m
Fresh and older wind slabs represent the main danger. Weakly bonded old snow is to be evaluated with care and prudence.
As a consequence of the occasionally strong northwesterly wind, the snow drift accumulations will increase in size on Wednesday. In all aspects avalanche prone wind slabs will form. These can be released even by a single winter sport participant above the tree line. Slopes adjacent to ridgelines are especially unfavourable. Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found also in areas close to the tree line. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. The prevalence of avalanche prone locations and likelihood of triggering will increase with altitude. Additionally avalanches can also be released in deep layers. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found on steep, little used shady slopes above approximately 2200 m and on steep sunny slopes above approximately 2500 m.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind dp.1: deep persistent weak layer
The strong wind will transport the snow. The various wind slabs are lying on soft layers in all aspects. They are lying on surface hoar in some places, in particular on the Main Alpine Ridge and to the north. Faceted weak layers exist in the old snowpack, especially on shady slopes above approximately 2200 m, as well as on sunny slopes above approximately 2500 m.
Tendency
A lot of snow will fall on Thursday, especially in the northwest. Significant increase in avalanche danger as a consequence of new snow and strong wind. The snowpack will become unstable over a wide area.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Fresh wind slabs require caution.
The wind will be strong at times. Adjacent to ridgelines as well as at elevated altitudes mostly small wind slabs will form. These can be released by a single winter sport participant in isolated cases. They are to be avoided in very steep terrain. Mostly avalanches are small.
Snowpack
dp.6: cold, loose snow and wind
As a consequence of a gathering strong northerly wind, mostly small wind slabs will form since Monday. The strong wind will transport the loosely bonded old snow. The fresh wind slabs are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack in particular on very steep shady slopes. Hardly any weak layers exist in the old snowpack.
Tendency
As a consequence of the strong northwesterly wind, fresh snow drift accumulations will form on Wednesday.
