Pongau Grass Mountains

Fresh snow blankets older drifts

Fresh snow blankets older drifts

Avalanche danger, the result of recent and current wind impact, is MODERATE above the timberline. Avalanche prone locations focus on leeward steep slopes in NW/E/S aspects and on steep gullies. Danger zones become more frequent with ascending altitude above the treeline. An avalanche can be triggered especially by large additional loading (a group, a fall), in transition zones from shallow to deep snow and in isolated cases by the weight of one sole person. Small-to-medium sized avalanches are possible.

On Wednesday, rising temperatures, then dropping again, led to a settling and consolidating of the snowpack layers. On Thursday, 10-20 cm of fresh snow will fall amid increasing wind impact from W/NW. Bonding to the lower snowpack layers is expected to be favourable. The old snowpack is relatively compact. In the classic backcountry ski touring regions there are no pronounced or relevant weak layers. A potential old snow problem exists in northern aspects above 2200 m.

On Thursday, visibility in the mountains will frequently be limited by heavy cloud and snowfall. During the day, weather conditions will improve, the snowfall will slacken off in the afternoon. Brisk to strong W/NW winds will be blowing. Temperature at 2000 m: -9 degrees; at 3000 m, -15 degrees. On Friday, good visibility, frequent sunshine. In the afternoon, high altitude cloud cover will move in from the west, create diffuse light conditions. Foehn-induced southerly winds will arise, reach 40-60 km/hr at high altitude. Temperature at 2000 m: -7 degrees; at 3000 m: -12 degrees.

Amid intensifying southerly wind, fresh snowdrift accumulations will be generated, deposited on north-facing slopes atop a cold/loose base and be prone to triggering. Avalanche danger will increase on Friday.