Ybbstaler Alpen

Moderate avalanche danger increasing with altitude

Moderate avalanche danger increasing with altitude

The avalanche risk is moderate at higher altitudes (level 2).

The snow that fell last week and was deposited in gullies and bowls by strong winds has already settled a little. In some places, however, this lies on a weak layer on the edge of the old snow foundation. In steep terrain on shady slopes, individual people can trigger medium-sized slab avalanches.

Avalanche prone locations are mainly in gullies, bowls and behind terrain edges as well as down into forest aisles. These are often difficult to recognise as they are covered by wind slab. The snow depths are sometimes considerable and the potential for burial should not be underestimated. The avalanche prone locations increase with altitude.

As temperatures rise during the day, wet and gliding sluffs are also possible on slopes exposed to the sun.

In the past week, snow has repeatedly fallen in combination with strong to stormy winds. The new fallen snow was transported intensively and formed drift snow packs. Exposed areas are often heavily blown down.

The fresh drift and new fallen snow is poorly bonded to the old snowpack in some places.

In shady high altitudes, faceted crystals or floating snow are still present in the persistent weak layer in places, but these are currently hardly prone to triggering and do not pose a significant avalanche problem.

The evening and night will be mostly cloudy, but there will be hardly any snowflakes. On Good Friday, the mountain weather improves temporarily, residual clouds and the last showers move away and mostly sunny weather sets in during the morning. The temperature at an altitude of 1500 metres will be between -2 and 2 degrees. Stormy winds with gusts of around 70 km/h from the north-west.

The avalanche danger will remain the same for the time being. However, the avalanche situation is expected to change as temperatures rise towards the weekend. On Saturday, a weak disturbance will once again bring thick clouds and light precipitation. Easter Sunday will bring mostly sunny and very mild weather.