Pongau Grass Mountains

Fresh snow and drifts prone to triggering

Fresh snow and drifts prone to triggering

Avalanche danger is moderate. . On extremely steep slopes, naturally trigger avalanches of medium size are expected due to daytime warming and solar radiation. On steep grass-covered slopes, medium-sized glide-snow avalanches are to be expected Avalanches in blanketed snowddrifts can be triggered even by one sole skier and reach medium size, esp. on steep shady slopes. Drifts are hard to recognize due to the fresh snow blanketing them. On very steep grass-covered terrain glide-snow avalanches can release and grow to medium size.

Since Friday evening 50-80cm of fresh snow has been registered at high altitudes. Due to daytime warming the snowpack is rapidly settling. Inside the fresh snow and snowdrifts there are soft layers of loose snow or graupel. In the lower and middle parts of the snowpack above 2200m there are weak layers of faceted crystals which are embedded between crusts, esp on W/S/E facing slopes above 2400m. Below 2000m the old snow is moist. Over ground which previously was bare of snow the fresh fallen snow can glide away as a glide-snow avalanche.

During the nocturnal hours, snow showers will taper off. On Wednesday, residual clouds and high fog will disperse in the morning, sunshine will follow, with good visibility. Moderate easterly winds will prevail, brisker on the northern rim of the Alps. At 2000m: -4 to 0 degrees; at 3000m. -7 degrees.

Likelihood of snowdrifts triggering will decrease slightly, wet-snow problems will increase, wet-snow problems will increase