Glockner Group Pasterze

Weak layers in the old snow demand high caution

Weak layers in the old snow demand high caution

Weak layers in the old snow in all aspects can be triggered by one single skier and are expected to remain trigger-sensitive. Danger zones occur esp. in gullies and bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape along the Salzburg border. On shady high-alpine slopes the likelihood of triggering is higher. Whumpf noises and glide cracks when you step onto the snowpack are indicators of danger. Avalanches can grow to medium size. Magnitude and frequency of danger zones will tend to increase with ascending altitude.

As a result of strong winds, trigger-sensitive soft layers in all aspects above 2400m are now covered by newly formed drifts. Over the last few days temperatures have been very low, with clear nocturnal skies. These conditions have consolidated the weak layers. The snowpack is highly diverse even over small areas.

On Tuesday, sunshine will dominate, the peaks will be free, with only a few clouds passing through, perhaps only slightly hampered. The recent strong NW winds will ease off, temperatures rise. At 2000m: -4 degrees; at 3000m: -8 degrees. Source: GeoSource Austria

As a result of fresh snow and NW winds, fresh snowdrifts are accumulating along the Salzburg border.