Pongau Grass Mountains

Heikel - Large amounts of new snow, partly with wind influence.

Heikel - Large amounts of new snow, partly with wind influence.

The avalanche risk is considerable above the tree line. The large amount of new fallen snow and snowdrift accumulations in all aspects can easily be triggered above the tree line. Avalanches can start in layers close to the surface and reach medium size. Occasionally, avalanches on shady slopes can break through into layers of the snowpack close to the ground and become large. The wind slab is often covered with snow away from areas adjacent to the ridgeline and the avalanche prone locations are difficult to recognise. Naturally triggered avalanches (both slabby and soft) can also be expected in very steep, extreme terrain.

Wind slabs and new fallen snow (30 cm to 50 cm) lie on a weak old snowpack. There are weak layers in the upper part of the old snowpack as well as deeper down (faceted crystals on crusts). Close to the ground, the snowpack consists of angular, cup-shaped crystals. Snow slabs break mainly within the fresh wind slab and new fallen snow layers, occasionally also on one of the uppermost weak layers in the persistent weak layer. Under the most unfavourable circumstances, however, a weak layer close to the ground can also be affected.

During the night, it snows 5 cm to 15 cm with strong winds from the northwest to north. On Friday, the snowfall (about 5 cm) will decrease during the day and take breaks. It will clear up in the afternoon. It will remain very windy and cold. At 2000 metres around -11 degrees, at 3000 metres around -16 degrees.

The avalanche danger remains for the time being or is only slowly decreasing.