Ybbstaler Alpen

Significant avalanche danger above the tree line!

Significant avalanche danger above the tree line!

The avalanche risk increases rapidly with altitude and is assessed as considerable (level 3) above the tree line. The drift snow packs are first covered by new fallen snow, then new drift snow packs form. Adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls, small to medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts in some places. Triggering is also possible in forest aisles. Avalanche prone locations are difficult to recognise due to the new fallen snow. There is still a persistent weak layer problem on shady slopes at high altitudes. Avalanches can occasionally tear through angular weak layers and reach medium size.

During the night to Friday, 10 to 30 cm of new fallen snow will fall, which will be transported by strong north-easterly winds in places. The drift snow packs are deposited on the snowdrift accumulations of the last few days or on the old snowpack. This is unfavourably structured in places with crusts and embedded faceted crystals. There are weak layers both at the transitions to the wind slab and within the old snowpack.

During the night to Friday, there will be widespread heavy snowfall with high intensities in places. The intensity will be higher in the east than in the west and there will be considerably more snowfall here. In the Rax-Schneeberg area, 20 to 40 cm of new fallen snow is expected, while 10 to 25 cm will fall in the Ybbstal Alps. The snowfall level will be in the valleys. In the morning, the precipitation will decrease from the west. The afternoon will be mostly free of precipitation. The temperature at an altitude of 2000 metres will be between -8 and -5 degrees. The temperature at an altitude of 1500 metres will be between -6 and -4 degrees. Strong to stormy winds with gusts between 40 and 70 km/h from south to north-east.

There will be no precipitation during the night until Saturday. On Saturday, the current will turn to the west and stormy winds will arise. A warm front is expected to bring precipitation again on Sunday night. However, the snowfall level will rise significantly. The avalanche risk remains considerable above the tree line.