Ankogel-Hochalm Group

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution. Avalanches can be released easily.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow require caution. Avalanches can be released easily.

Avalanches can be released in the weakly bonded old snow, this applies even in case of a single winter sport participant. Caution is to be exercised in particular on steep west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2000 m. Mostly avalanches are medium-sized. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack and fresh avalanches indicate the danger. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible in isolated cases. As a consequence of new snow and a storm force wind from northerly directions, avalanche prone wind slabs formed in gullies and bowls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. This applies in particular above approximately 2200 m. The fresh wind slabs can be released easily and reach medium size. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase with altitude.

In particular along the border with Salzburg in some regions up to 15 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen. Some snow will fall in particular from the Glockner Range Pasterze via the Goldberg Mountains South to the Ankogel-Hochalm Mountains. As a consequence of the northwesterly wind the wind slabs will increase in size additionally. The wind slabs are lying on surface hoar in some places at elevated altitudes. Distinct weak layers exist in the old snowpack. This applies in particular on west, north and east facing slopes above approximately 2000 m.

The conditions are unfavourable.