Pongau Grass Mountains

Wind slabs are easy to trigger, naturally triggered avalanches are also possible

Wind slabs are easy to trigger, naturally triggered avalanches are also possible

The avalanche risk is considerable. Medium to large slab avalanches can be triggered very easily by individuals in some places. Danger areas are located at the transition from little to more snow and generally next to blown-off areas as well as in the entrance areas to gullies and bowls filled with wind slabs. Caution should also be exercised at the edge of forests and in forest aisles. The avalanche prone locations are not always easy to recognise. In low and medium altitudes, small to medium wet loose snow avalanches and gliding avalanches are possible.

In addition to the already abundant new snow of the previous days, more new fallen snow will be added in a short time. This layer of fresh snow is inhomogeneous due to repeated wind influences that vary in strength. Breaks are possible mainly between the last layers of drifting snow, sometimes (especially on shady slopes protected from the wind) also on snow-covered surface hoar. At high altitudes, especially in northern and eastern aspects, bonded snow overlays a weak old snowpack of faceted crystals and deep frost. At low and medium altitudes, heat and rainfall put additional pressure on the snowpack.

Saturday afternoon and evening it will snow persistently and heavily with a snowfall level of around 1200 metres, with 10 to 20 cm of new fallen snow. The wind is still blowing strongly from the south-west to north-west at times. The precipitation will subside after midnight. At most, the sun will come through briefly on Sunday morning, but soon the clouds will close in again and from around midday it will rain and snow lightly again, with rain possible up to 2000 metres. It will be milder at all altitudes: At 2000 m -3 to +1 degrees, at 3000 m -7 to -4 degrees.

Further precipitation with a snowfall level around 1600 m on Monday. The situation remains precarious at the start of the week!