Glockner Group Pasterze

Evaluate fresh snowdrifts with caution. Attention: weak layers in the old snow.

Evaluate fresh snowdrifts with caution. Attention: weak layers in the old snow.

As a result of fresh snow and moderate-velocity winds from varying directions, mostly shallow snowdrift accumulations will be generated during the night in ridgeline zones, gullies and bowls above all else. These drifts can be easily triggered, especially on NW/N/NE facing slopes, or else glide away naturally. Avalanches can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack and in isolated cases along the Salzburg border, reach medium size. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude.

Particularly along the Salzburg border, 5-10 cm of fresh snow was registered, locally more. The freshly generated snowdrift accumulations were deposited atop an unfavorable old snowpack surface, particularly on NW/N/SE facing slopes above 2400m. The old snowpack is expansively metamorphosed, full of faceted crystals. The snowpack is highly varied, even over small areas. There is too little snow o the ground at all altitudes for this juncture of the season.

On Saturday morning, radiantly sunny weather will prevail with outstanding visibility and a few cirrus clouds at high altitudes. In the afternoon, dense clouds will move in from the west above summit level, partially hampering the sun, but it will remain dry with good visibility. Winds will be mostly light to moderate from the southwest. At 3000m: rising to -11 degrees; at 2000m: maximum -7 degrees.

No significant change in avalanche danger levels anticipated