Glockner Group Central

A few cm of fresh snow blanket the surface hoar

A few cm of fresh snow blanket the surface hoar

Avalanche danger above 2000 m is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is LOW. In general, bonding between fresh snow layers is lacking in order to form a slab atop it all.Blanketed surface hoar constitutes a trigger-sensitive weak layer. Generally, however, there is not slab on top. On the Main Alpine Ridge on south-facing slopes, fresh snowdrifts can form: small but prone to triggering. Older snowdrift accumulations can be triggered especially by large additional loading. Danger zones occur mostly on west-facing slopes. In high alpine regions, superficial releases can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack and the avalanches can grow to larger size.

During the last few nights, surface hoar has formed, then blanketed by a few cm of fresh fallen snow. In places, a thin melt-freeze crust lies beneath the fresh snow.Older snowdrift accumulations are generally well consolidated with the old snowpack. Inside the old snowpack there are ground-level layers which are weak, bordering on melt-freeze crusts and inside the depth hoar of the fundament.

On Saturday, visibility in the mountains will frequently be reduced due to heavy clouds. In the morning hours, light snowfall is possible over widespread areas, in the afternoon hours it will remain dry by and large, apart from the northern barrier cloud regions. At 2000 m: -11 degrees; at 3000 m: -13 degrees. On Sunday, reduced visibility to start with at low altitudes due to high fogbanks, abofe them the day will launch with lots of sunshine. The pleasant conditions with good visibility are expected to persist through the next few days.

On Sunday, no change. On Monday, rising avalanche danger levels due to snowfall and wind.