Goldberg Group Central

Avalanches triggerable in a few unfavourable spots in open terrain

Avalanches triggerable in a few unfavourable spots in open terrain

Avalanche danger above about 2700 m is moderate, danger is low below that altitude. Potential places where dry-snow slabs can be triggered are found particularly in high alpine terrain, especially on shady slopes and in transitions from shallow to deeper snow, for example at the edges of very steep gullies and bowls. In general, large additional loading is necessary to trigger a release, these can then reach medium size. Below about 2200 m some danger of glide-snow avalanches in extremely steep terrain and on smooth grassy slopes. In general, the risk which lurks in sharp rocks beneath the snow outweighs that of being buried in triggered releases.

The fresh fallen snow has settled and is still loose in some high alpine places. The sink-in depths vary between 20 and 40 cm. On Tuesday there was a small amount of additional snowfall without much wind influence (10-20 cm in the Venediger Massif), the fresh snow blanketed surface hoar in many places. Intermittently strong-velocity winds had already transported the fresh snow, smoothing out the snow surface on the ground, filling gullies and bowls to the brim. Bonding to the snowpack fundament is generally good, however thin, soft intermediate layers in the old snow could prove to be fracture spots. At intermediate and low altitudes, no cohesive, area-wide snowpack covers the ground. On steep grassy slopes, isolated glide cracks are evident. The snow situation is still highly variegated.

On Thursday, frequent sunshine is anticipated in the mountains amid light clouds. At low altitudes, fogbanks could hamper visibility. The summits on the Main Alpine Ridge of the Tauern will be cloaked in heavy cloud from the south. Winds will be light to moderate. At 2000 m: -3 degrees; at 3000 m: -8 degrees. On Friday the peaks will be hidden in heavy cloud until past midday, a bit of snowfall is expected. In the afternoon the clouds may disperse somewhat, foehn-induced southerly winds (30-40 km/hr) will arise. At 2000 m: -3 degrees; at 3000 m: -8 degrees. On Saturday on the Main Tauern Ridge, barrier cloud build-up expected from the south, summits wreathed in fog. Further north, only slightly cloudy, often sunny with good visibility. Foehn wind will be blowing at 40-70 km/hr in the Tauern.

No significant change expected immediately. On the weekend, a snowdrift problem due to rising foehn wind.