Stub and Gleinalpe

Moderate avalanche danger at high altitudes

Moderate avalanche danger at high altitudes

Avalanche danger in the Gurktal and Seetal Alps, on Packalpe and Koralpe above the timberline is moderate above the timberline. A weak layer distributed throughout all aspects inside the snowpack fundament (persistent weak layer) can be triggered in few places by large additional loading, but huge slab avalanches are possible. Also, small snowdrift accumulations can be triggered even by minimum additional loading. Most critical are the transition zones from shallow to deep snow and the entries into gullies and bowls.

Storm-strength NW winds are generating small snowdrift accumulations, often poorly bonded with the snowbase beneath them. In addition, more deeply embedded inside the snowpack are weak layers of faceted crystals bordering on melt-freeze crusts, weakening the entire snowpack thereby. They occur only in a few places, are generally triggerable by large additional loading.

On Monday night, a few cm of fresh snow are expected, but hardly any snowfall in the Packalpe, Koralm zones. Stormy NW winds transport intensively. Winds will slacken off during the day, but still remain strong. At 2000 m: -9 degrees. On Wednesday, often dispersed clouds, hardly any precipitation. Winds will again be strong-to-stormy from NW. At 2000 m: -7 degrees.

Freshly generated snowdrifts will increase avalanche danger levels.