Stub and Gleinalpe

Fresh snowdrifts on north and east-facing slopes

Fresh snowdrifts on north and east-facing slopes

Avalanche danger levels in the Gurktal and Seetal Alps, on Stubalpe and on Koralpe are considerable. Fresh snowdrifts on north and east-facing slopes are the main danger. Icy NW winds will generate new snowdrift accumulations. Avalanche prone locations are found near ridglines and at entries into gullies and bowls. Triggering a slab avalanches is possible even by minimum additional loading. The snowdrift accumulation masses should not be underestimated.

Cold NW winds have transported the fresh snow from the most recent bout of precipitation. Bonding to the old snowpack is insufficient. The old snowpack on north-facing slopes is weakened by expansive metamorphosis: persistent weak layer! Due to forecast winds on Saturday, further snowdrifts are expected. The cold drifts will not bond well with the old snowpack on Saturday.

Skies on the northern flank of the Alps are heavily overcast, continual snowfall through the night. Particularly from Ausseer Land into Mariazeller Land, large amounts of fresh snow are expected (20-30 cm). In the Murtal and Mürztal, less, but repeated rounds of snowfall are possible. The NW winds will increase in strength, blowing strong in the mountains. Saturday: heavy cloud cover. Between Totes Gebirge and Hochschwab, continual snowfall. South of Niedere Tauern, only a bit of snowfall. Winds will be strong to stormy from NW. Icy cold in the mountains: at 2000 m, -13 degrees. Sunday: cloud cover still dominates, some snowfall between Dachstein and Hochschwab. In the afternoon, winds and precipitation will ease, but cloud cover will persist. Cold at high altitudes: at 2000 m, -13 degrees.

No significant change in avalanche danger levels