Villach Alps

Caution: fresh snowdrift accumulations.

Caution: fresh snowdrift accumulations.

Snowdrift accumulations which are prone to triggering have been generated particularly in gullies, bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape due to fresh snow and strong to storm-velocity winds. Snowdrifts can be triggered by one single skier and are expected to remain trigger-sensitive. Danger zones occur esp. on shady slopes above 2400m. Avalanches can grow to medium size. Magnitude and frequency of danger zones will tend to increase with ascending altitude. Be careful of the risks of being swept along and taking a fall.

As a result of strong winds, trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations have been generated esp. in gullies, bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape. The older snowdrifts lie deposited atop soft layers particularly on NW/N/SE facing slopes above 1800m. The old snowpack is faceted, expansively metamorphosed, often weak. The snowpack is highly diverse even over small areas, there is often little snow on the ground below 1600m.

Sunday will bring clear skies and brilliantly sunny weather in the mountains. Towards evening a few clouds will move in. Strong NW winds will be blowing, and it will remain icy cold. At 2000m: -8 degrees; at 3000m: -12 degrees. Source: GeoSphere Austria

Weather conditions (cold and wind) hampering quick stabilization of the snowdrift accumulations