Beware of fresh wind slab, avalanche prone locations in persistent weak layers are rare but have serious consequences
The avalanche risk increases rapidly from the tree line upwards with increasing altitude and is considerable from around 2000 metres.
Avalanches in wind slabs can be triggered very easily by individuals, in particular in aspects from west to north to east, in some cases also in southern aspects in the high Alps. Danger areas are located behind terrain edges as well as in steep gullies and bowls and in the forest boundary area. Avalanches can reach medium size and occasionally become large if they tear through the persistent weak layer.
Snowpack
At the beginning of the week, 30 to 50 cm of new fallen snow fell under the influence of variable, sometimes strong winds. New and wind slab snow lies in shady high areas on soft, faceted snow. Away from this, the snow has fallen on a melt-freeze crust. Deeper in the snowpack, faceted crystals can be found on a crust; close to the ground, the snowpack consists of angular, cup-shaped crystals. The connection at the transition to the deep snowpack near the ground is still poor. Deep and sunny middle layers were largely snowed out before the snowfall.
Tendency
Gradual settlement of the snowdrift accumulations.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Persistent weak layer
2000m
Pay attention to fresh wind slab, avalanche prone locations in persistent weak layers are rare but have serious consequences
The avalanche risk is moderate above the tree line and low below. In the aspects from west to north to south-east, avalanches can easily be triggered by individuals in wind slabs. Danger areas are located behind terrain edges as well as in steep gullies and bowls, also in the forest boundary area. Avalanches can occasionally reach medium size. Above 2000 m, in the aspects from west to north to east, medium and occasionally large slab avalanches can be triggered by individuals in a few places. Such avalanche prone locations are rare but not recognisable in the terrain. Take particular care at the transitions from little to more snow.
Snowpack
15 to 30 cm of new fallen snow has fallen since the beginning of the week, less in the Nockberge. New and wind slab snow lies in shady high altitudes on soft, faceted snow. Away from this, the snow has fallen on a melt-freeze crust. Deeper in the snowpack, faceted crystals can be found on a crust; close to the ground, the snowpack consists of angular, cup-shaped crystals. The connection at the transition to the deep snowpack near the ground is still poor. Deep and sunny middle layers were largely snowed out before the snowfall.
Tendency
Gradual settlement of the snowdrift accumulations.
Danger level
treeline
Avalanche Problem
Wind slab
Treeline
Mostly favourable conditions with little snow
The avalanche risk is low. Above the tree line, mainly small slab avalanches can be triggered in places in the shady steep terrain adjacent to ridgelines due to low additional loads. In addition, in the entrance areas of steep gullies on shady slopes, snow slabs can occasionally be triggered in persistent weak layers. The risk of being swept away and falling on icy surfaces that may be thinly covered with snow and therefore difficult to recognise generally outweighs the risk of burial.
Snowpack
The new and wind slab snow lies on a mostly well-settled old snowpack. Weak layers of overblown new fallen snow near the surface can be seen on a small scale. In the higher on shady slopes, there are still weak layers of large faceted crystals in the lower part of the snowpack, especially near the ground. Low and sunny mid-altitude areas were largely snowed out before the snowfall.
