Ybbstaler Alpen

Pay attention to fresh, prone to triggering wind slab.

Pay attention to fresh, prone to triggering wind slab.

Above the tree line, there is still a moderate avalanche risk (level 2). The strong westerly wind is transporting the soft new fallen snow and forming fresh snowdrift accumulations, especially in the north to east to south aspects, adjacent to ridgelines and in steep gullies and bowls. These can be triggered by individual winter sports enthusiasts as slab avalanches, especially in the transition from a little to a lot of snow. There is still a persistent weak layer problem on shady slopes at high altitudes. Avalanches can occasionally tear through angular weak layers, but usually remain small.

Above around 1000 metres there is about 10 cm of new fallen snow, which was transported by strong north-westerly winds. Fresh drift snow packs are lying on decomposed snow or older drift snow layers and are prone to triggering in places. Underneath, the old snowpack is unfavourably structured in places with crusts and faceted crystals. There are weak layers both at the transitions to the wind slab and within the old snowpack.

The wind will weaken significantly on Sunday evening. The first half of the night will be mostly clear, then a warm front will move in from the west, bringing stormy winds with it. It will snow at times in the Ybbstal Alps. The snowfall level will be at low altitudes. It will remain windy during the day and the peaks will often be covered in cloud. A few snow or sleet showers will pass through. Temperatures will rise from -12 to -6 degrees at an altitude of 2000 metres and from -9 to -3 degrees at an altitude of 1500 metres. Stormy winds from the west with gusts between 60 and 100 km/h.

The avalanche danger remains the same. In the night to Monday, strong to stormy westerly winds will develop with the passage of a warm front. On Monday, it will snow intermittently in the morning and the clouds will soften at times in the afternoon. In the evening and on Tuesday night, a north-westerly weather pattern sets in, leading to more snowfall.