Kitzbühel Alps Glemmtal

Avalanche danger levels are moderate. Freshly generated snowdrifts can be triggered as a small-to-medium sized slab avalanche in some places. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase rapidly with ascending altitude, but also forest clearances at low altitudes can be treacherous. Surface-near avalanches above 2200m can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers of the snowpack. Danger zones occur particularly on north and east-facing slopes, above 2400m also on south and west-facing slopes. Caution urged in transitions from shallow to deep snow. Naturally triggered small-to-medium sized glide-snow avalanches are possible. Circumvent zones below glide cracks.

There was 10-20 cm of fresh snow registered, drifts were deposited atop a loosely-packed, expansively metamorphosed snow base which can serve as a fracture surface. On sunny slopes the bonding to the often encrusted old snowpack surface is somewhat more favorable. Intermittently strong W/NW winds have compacted and transported the snow in exposed terrain. Above about 2200m there are faceted crystals evident inside the old snowpack, often of surface hoar, which can frequently be prone to triggering. The entire snowpack can glide away over steep rocky places and grass-covered slopes.

Skies on Friday night will clear, winds will ease off. Saturday will start with sunshine, but high-altitude clouds will move in during the morning hours, light conditions will become diffuse, winds will be light to moderate, the shift at high altitudes to westerly-to-southwesterly. At 2000m: rising from -11 to -5 degrees; at 3000m: from -16 to -10 degrees.

On Sunday, superficial moistening of the snowpack due to rain impact, small naturally triggered avalanches possible