Pongau Grass Mountains

Cold powder snow and rising NW winds

Cold powder snow and rising NW winds

Avalanche danger above 1800 m is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is LOW. As a result of rising NW winds, danger levels above 1800 m will increase to CONSIDERABLE during the course of the day. The fresh fallen snow is not bonding well with the old snowpack. In steep terrain, isolated small loose-snow avalanches can trigger (by skiers or naturally). Near ridgelines a small slab avalanche is possible which can be triggered even by minimum additional loading, esp. on E/S facing slopes. The snowpack layering is unfavourable. Weak layers in the old snowpack can generally be triggered only by large additional loading. Transitions from shallow to deep snow and entries into steep gullies are the most dangerous spots.

Atop a rather shallow, often unfavourably layered old snowpack (ground-level layers are expansively metamorphosed, atop of which are melt-freeze crusts/icy sheets and just beneath the surface hoar is embedded) lies a loose layer of powder which has not been wind-impacted. Sink-in depths are often 20-40 cm. Where there is no wind the snow remains loose and powdery. As NW winds intensify during the daytime, fresh drifts will accumulate anew which are highly prone to triggering, especially in ridgeline terrain.

On Friday evening, snowfall of varying intensity, accumulating measurably by Saturday evening (20-30 cm possible). On Saturday the peaks will be wreathed in heavy cloud, orientation is made difficult through fog and snowfall. Winds will be light to moderate. At 1500 m: -9 degrees; at 2000 m: -13 degrees.

As winds intensify and additional snowfall arrives, fresh snowdrifts in ridgeline terrain will ratchet up the danger levels.