Kreuzeck Group

Beware fresh snowdrifts

Beware fresh snowdrifts

Fresh snowfall and strong-to-stormy northerly winds will generate new snowdrift accumulations esp. in gullies and bowls, behind protruberances in the terrain which can be triggered in the old snow and reach medium size, particularly in wind-protected zones. Even one sole skier can trigger avalanches. Danger zones occur esp. on W/N/E-facing slopes above 2200m. Very isolated danger zones occur also on south-facing slopes above 2600m. In isolated cases, avalanches can sweep along more deeply embedded layers of the snowpack. Danger zones and likelihood of triggering will increase during the course of the day. In addition, avalanches can trigger in the near-surface layers even by one sole skier, esp. in the afternoon in the wind-impacted zones.

Since Saturday, 10-15cm of fresh snow has been registered above 1700m, locally more. The often storm strength winds will transport the fresh snow intensively. The snowdrifts will be deposited atop a weak old snowpack above 2200m. Inside the old snowpack on N/W/E-facing slopes there are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers. The fresh snowdrifts lie deposited atop soft layers above 2000m.

On Monday, storm-strength northerly winds will bring a brief spell of sunny and dry weather, but during the course of the day summits will be covered in clouds and isolated short snow-and-graupel showers can be expected. At 2000m: -4 degrees; at 3000m: -13 degrees. Source: GeoSource Austria

Little change expected