Pongau Grass Mountains

Avoid zones below glide cracks

Avoid zones below glide cracks

Avalanche danger is considerable.Glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally up to summit level at any time of day, esp on steep slopes with smooth ground beneath (grass, rocks) in all aspects. Above 1800 m they can be medium-sized. Avoid zones below glide cracks. Fresh snowdrifts from the last 24 hours can trigger by large additional loading (a group, breaking cornice, glide-snow avalanche), esp. above 2200 m behind protruberances, in steep gullies and bowls, mostly small, in isolated cases medium-sized. Due to higher temperatures, loose-snow avalanches are possible on very steep slopes, mostly small-sized.

Stormy winds have done their work on the snowpack, variable surfaces should be expected during descents. In many places the surfaces can bear loads. In general, the fresh snow from the weekend has settled well. Wide-ranging snowdrift accumulations have been generated at high altitudes, on shady slopes deposited atop a loose layer of faceted crystals. Even where the snowpack surface was encrusted, a faceted layer could have formed before the snow fell. In high alpine zones above 2500 m the old snowpack base has faceted crystals near the crusts. The ground is warm, thus, the entire snowpack is gliding downhill over smooth surfaces.

On Tuesday, lots of clouds, the sunshine will be milky, compact clouds but the peaks should remain in the clear. Visibility mostly good. Westerly winds will slacken off (50 km/hr). At 2000 m: 3-6 degrees; at 3000 m: -2 degrees. On Tuesday night, clear skies or only scattered clouds.

The danger of glide-snow avalanches will persist.