Gliding snow
- All elevations
- Size
- 1
Stability: very poor · Frequency: few
Circumvent zones below glide cracks
Stability: very poor · Frequency: few
Circumvent zones below glide cracks
Avlanche danger is low, gliding snow is the main problem. On steep grass-covered slopes and over rock plates where the snow depths are sufficient, small glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally a any time of day or night.
The snow on sunny slopes and at low altitudes can form a melt-freeze crust at night which then softens during the daytime. Exposed ridges and crests are windblown, gullies, bowls and slopes near forest rims are filled with snow. The fresh fallen snow has settled in the interim. On shady slopes the fresh fallen snow is still loose, the snowpack was able to metamorphose repeatedly, forming faceted crystals. The entire snowpack can start to glide over steep rock plates or grassy slopes.
Following a night of frequently clear skies on Thursday, high-altitude clouds will soon move in, as of midday covering the sun. Light conditions will be increasingly diffuse. During the course of the day, brisk SW winds will arise, temperatures will drop from +2 to -2 degrees at 2000m; from -5 to -7 degrees at 3000m. On Thursday night, minor snowfall accompanied by strong-velocity NW winds.
On Friday, fresh snowdrifts to increase the danger of slab avalanches
Bulletin data: Avalanche Warning Service Salzburg (CC BY 4.0)