Ankogel-Hochalm Group

Wind slabs represent the main danger. Weakly bonded old snow is to be evaluated with care and prudence.

Wind slabs represent the main danger. Weakly bonded old snow is to be evaluated with care and prudence.

As a consequence of new snow and a strong to storm force wind, clearly visible wind slabs formed in all aspects. As a consequence of a sometimes strong northeasterly wind, further wind slabs will form on Wednesday. These can be released easily above the tree line. Caution is to be exercised in particular at the base of rock walls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain, as well as adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. Shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack can indicate the danger. Additionally in isolated cases avalanches can penetrate near-ground layers of the snowpack and reach large size, especially on west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2200 m, and on south facing slopes at elevated altitudes. As a consequence of warming during the day and solar radiation loose snow avalanches are to be expected, but they will be mostly small. This applies in particular on extremely steep sunny slopes.

10 to 20 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen. The sometimes storm force wind has transported the new snow. In some cases the various wind slabs have bonded poorly together. The old snowpack will be weakly bonded in some places, especially on west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2200 m, and on south facing slopes at elevated altitudes.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow represent the main danger.