Stub and Gleinalpe

Fresh snow and freshly generated snowdrift accumulations

Fresh snow and freshly generated snowdrift accumulations

Avalanche danger is considerable above the treeline. Naturally triggered wet avalanches are possible as a result of the fresh snowfall. In backcountry touring terrain the danger zones lie in ridgeline terrain and behind abrupt drops in the terrain. In addition, on steep grassy slopes glide-snow slides can release naturally. Exposed transportation routes can be placed at risk. Poor visibility makes it more difficult to see the dangers.

Over the last 24 hours there has been up to 40 cm of fresh snow registered. The fresh snow fell on a moist snowpack fundament, at high altitudes atop loose fresh snow. Bonding is not sufficient. Bare ground was snowed on, if the snow adds up it can start to glide in entirety.

An occlusion of a low-pressure front is bringing us dense clouds, poor visibility and precipitation. The snowfall level will lie at 800-1200 m north Main Alpine Ridge, on the southern flank of the Alps at 1100-1500 m. Heaviest snowfall will be in the Dachstein, Totes Gebirge and Hochschwab regions, where from Friday to Saturday 40-80 cm of fresh snow can fall. Towards east and south, intensity of snowfall will ease, in Niedere Tauern up to 30 cm is expected, in Gurktal and Seetal Alps and the rimline ranges, hardly any precipitation. Winds will be westerly, strong in the Northern Alps and gusty, only light in the southern regions. In the Northern Alps at 2000 m: -5 degrees; at 1000 m: 0 degrees, in the south higher.

On Sunday, low-pressure front conditions will determine the weather, dense cloud, repeated precipitation is possible. Snowfall level will ascend. Danger of wet-snow avalanches will increase somewhat. At high altitudes the snowdrifts will continue to remain prone to triggering.