Villach Alps

Evaluate snowdrift accumulations on shady slopes with great caution

Evaluate snowdrift accumulations on shady slopes with great caution

Due to fresh snowfall and increasily stormy winds, far-reaching snowdrift accumulations are being generated, particularly on shady slopes above 1800m: easily triggered or triggering naturally. Gullies and bowls are unfavorable, since weak layers are evident inside the old snow. Avalanches are sometimes medium-sized. Apart from the risk of being buried in snow masses, you also need to take the dangers of being swept along and forced to take a fall into consideration on extremely steep slopes. In addition, some small loose-snow avalanches can be expected especially at the foot of rock cliffs on extremely steep sunny slopes.

Since Friday there has been up to 25cm of fresh snow along the Salzburg border, locally more. The often strong winds have transported the fresh snowfall. Snowdrift accumulations cover a weak old snowpack surface on shady slopes above 1800m. The old snowpack is faceted and expansively metamorphosed. The snowpack is highly irregular even over small areas.

On Sunday, cloudbanks will repeatedly pass through. As of midday, the clouds will become denser and in late afternoon a few snow showers will pass through. Moderate westerly to southwesterly winds will be blowing. At 2000m: -5 degrees; at 1000m: 0 degrees.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.