Fischbach Alps West, Graz Highlands

MODERATE avalanche danger above 1000 m - Fresh snowdrifts are prone to triggering

MODERATE avalanche danger above 1000 m - Fresh snowdrifts are prone to triggering

MODERATE avalanche danger above 1000 m, LOW below that altitude. Danger zones occur in dense forested zones, mostly easy to recognize. Weak layers can be triggered in fresh snow and drifts as slab avalanches. Frequency of danger zones increases with ascending altitude. Where the snowdrift accumulations are deeper, avalanche releases above 1000 m can also reach medium size. On steep grassy slopes, naturally triggered glide-snow avalanches continue to be possible.

On Saturday, stormy NW winds were blowing which have transported the fresh snow massively over the last few days, depositing it as brittle, bonded snowdrift accumulations down as far as the forests. Below 1200 m the snowdrifts were deposited atop a moistened snowpack. As temperatures dropped during the day today the moistened snowpack stabilized and became encrusted. Weak layers occur inside the fresh snow and at the borders to the snowpack which are highly prone to triggering. Deeply embedded inside the snow cover are layers of faceted crystals bordering against melt-freeze crusts which weaken the entire snowpack. Summits and exposed terrain are utterly windblown.

Sunday will be cold, but the stormy conditions and fresh snowfall will come to an end. Winds will ease significantly, still strong in the morning. South of the Alps there will be mostly sunshine. Heavy clouds will persist north of the Alps, but not much snowfall and increasing sunshine. At 2000 m, -12 degrees.

Weather conditions are calming down. It will remain cold, danger will decrease.