Avalanche forecast

Pongau Grass Mountains

LWD Salzburg
View on map

Avalanche danger

Above treeline
3 · Considerable
Below treeline
1 · Low
Open full map
Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Fresh wind slab prone to triggering

Avalanche problems

  • Wind slab

    • Above treeline

Avalanche Activity

Fresh wind slab prone to triggering

The avalanche risk is considerable above the tree line and low below. Slab avalanches can be triggered in some places by even a small additional load and can reach medium size. Occasionally, avalanches can also slide off spontaneously. Most avalanche prone locations are located on west to north to south-east facing slopes, behind terrain edges, in gullies and bowls and also in the forest boundary area. They increase in size and frequency with altitude. Cracks when walking on the snow cover, snowpack indicate the danger. From extremely steep terrain, spontaneous, mostly small loose snow avalanches can be triggered by the sun's rays. In addition to the risk of burial, the danger of being swept away and falling must be taken into account. There are also many rocks lurking around.

Snowpack Structure

A total of 40 to 50 cm of new fallen snow has fallen in the last few days, with a further 10 cm added during the day. Wind and snowfall are constantly forming fresh wind slabs at altitude and the snow can also bind well on the surface due to the warming. Both soft snow, surface hoar and faceted crystals above/below the top crust can serve as a weak layer for snowdrift accumulations. The rest of the old snowpack consists of layers of faceted crystals, deep rime and melt-freeze crusts and has little tendency to break up. Below 1400 metres, rainfall moistened the snow cover on Friday, and a melt-freeze crust has formed within the new snowpack. The total snow depth is still well below average.

Weather Forecast

A warm front moves through on Monday. Visibility is still good at the beginning. During the day, the cloud base lowers and the peaks are covered in fog. It snows and rains from midday. The snowfall level rises to over 1500 metres by the evening. Another 10 cm of new fallen snow. Significant warming. At 2000 m -7 to -1 degrees, at 3000 m -12 to -6 degrees. Moderate to brisk winds from south to west (peaks around 60 km/h).

Tendency

The wind slab gradually settles as the weather warms up.

Bulletin data: Avalanche Warning Service Salzburg (CC BY 4.0)

Regions covered