Pongau Grass Mountains

Melt-freeze crusts initially dominate. Moderate wet-snow problem follows during daytime.

Melt-freeze crusts initially dominate. Moderate wet-snow problem follows during daytime.

Avalanche danger in the morning is LOW, rises in afternoon to MODERATE due to warmth and solar radiation. Superficial loose-snow avalanches are possible, mostly small, mostly in very steep terrain. They can be triggered by skiers and boarders (slides, danger of being swept along) or on extremely steep rocky slopes can trigger naturally. Very isolated glide-snow avalanches (small-to-medium) can release on very steep grassy slopes.

Atop a compact, moist old snowpack, mostly topped by a melt-freeze crust which quickly softens in the sun. Above the treeline, winds on Tuesday formed compactly chiseled melt-freeze crust. Near ridges there are isolated small/shallow snowdrift masses atop soft snow. Elsewhere, bonding of fresh snow to old snow is good.

On Wednesday, favorable mountain weather, lots of sun, good visibility. Initially only thin high-altitude clouds above summit level. Later in the day, large convective cloud build-up is anticipated, later on isolated rain showers. Moderate southerly winds. Warmer. At 2000 m: 5 degrees. On Wednesday night, cloudy and mild. Light rainfall is possible. On Thursday, some sunshine at the start, acceptable visibility. Soon the cloud cover will become dense, the visibility deteriorate, orientation become difficult. Towards evening, precipitation will set in from the west (snowfall level at 2000m). Strong westerly winds. At 2000 m: 2 degrees.

Small wet-snow problem. Mostly MODERATE danger (glide-snow and loose-snow).