Goldberg Group Central

Wet snow is the main problem

The snowpack has difficulty cooling down overnight and a thin melt-freeze crust softens early in the morning. Beneath this lies well-settled snow from the last periods of precipitation, but softer layers are embedded, especially at higher altitudes, which allow fractures near the surface. On shady slopes from around 2200 metres, there are still prone to triggering weak layers of angular forms and deep rime in the old snowpack close to the ground. The snowpack becomes moist to wet up to high altitudes during daytime changes at the latest. Low altitudes are snowed out.

Wet snow is the main problem

The avalanche risk is already considerable below around 3000 metres in the morning. Wet slab avalanches and loose snow avalanches are possible on slopes that have not yet been discharged in all aspects. The avalanches can occur spontaneously or be triggered by individuals. They usually remain medium-sized, but can also become large in some places as wet snow accumulates and tears through the persistent weak layer.

In a few places above 2200 m, weak layers can also be disturbed directly in the old snow, especially on west, north and east-facing slopes, as well as south-facing slopes in the high Alps. Snow slabs in the persistent weak layer can be medium in size, and large if they break through into the floating snow close to the ground. The avalanche prone locations are difficult to recognise.

Small, fresh pillows of wind drifted snow can be disturbed in high, blown-in gullies and generally at the transition from little to much snow, especially adjacent to ridgelines.

Sunday night will be cloudy to very cloudy, but mostly dry. Temperatures at 2000 m around +5 degrees, at 3000 m around -3 degrees. Tomorrow, Sunday, sun and clouds will alternate, so visibility will vary. In the afternoon, some additional spring clouds will appear, which may temporarily shroud higher peaks in fog. As a result, one or two showers cannot be completely ruled out (snowfall level around 2800 metres). At high altitudes in the Tauern, there will be a brisk southerly wind at times during the day. Temperatures at 2000 m between 6 and 11 degrees, at 3000 m between -1 and +1 degree. The frost line will rise to 3000 metres. There will be Sahara dust in the air.

The wet snow problem remains.