Glockner Group Pasterze

Avalanche conditions unfavorable. Main dangers: fresh snowdrifts and persistent weak layers.

Avalanche conditions unfavorable. Main dangers: fresh snowdrifts and persistent weak layers.

Fresh snowfall and stormy northerly winds generated new snowdrift accumulations esp. in gullies and bowls, behind protruberances in the terrain which can be triggered in the old snow and reach medium size, particularly in wind-protected zones. Even one sole skier can trigger avalanches, esp. above 2200m. Danger zones occur esp. on W/N/E-facing slopes above 2200m. Very isolated danger zones occur also on south-facing slopes above 2600m. In isolated cases, avalanches can sweep along more deeply embedded layers of the snowpack. Danger zones and likelihood of triggering will increase during the course of the day. In addition, avalanches can trigger and fracture down to more deeply embedded layers of the snowpack, then grow to large size in isolated cases. Whumpf noises and glide cracks can indicate imminent danger. Remote triggerings and natural triggerings are possible. In the Glockner Massif and along the Salzburg border, danger zones are more frequent and larger. Loose-snow avalanches are possible, esp. in case of extended bright intervals.

Often stormy winds have intensively transported the fresh fallen snow. The newly generated snowdrifts lie deposited in all aspects above 2200m atop soft layers. On N/W/E-facing slopes, trigger-sensitive weak layers are evident. The new snowdrift accumulations lie deposited atop soft layers above 2200m. At low and intermediate altitudes the snowpack is moist. Below 1700m there is little snow on the ground.

On Wednesday, lots of high-foglike clouds will move in amidst persistently strong easterly winds, above which it will be sunny all day long. Elsewhere, clouds will disperse regionally only during the afternoon hours. At 1000m: +13 degrees; at 2000m: +2 degrees; at 3000m: -6 degrees. Source: GeoSource Austria

Current avalanche situation demands caution and restraint