Glockner Group Central

Daytime cycle at low and intermediate altitudes. Persistent weak layer in high alpine regions.

Daytime cycle at low and intermediate altitudes. Persistent weak layer in high alpine regions.

Avalanche danger above 2000m is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is initially LOW and rises to MODERATE during the day. On sun-drenched steep slopes, naturally or skier-caused small-to-medium loose-snow avalanches are possible. Also glide-snow avalanches (medium-to-large) are possible on steep grass-covered slopes. Where there was foehn wind on the weekend (many signs of wind impact) there are some snowdrifts on W/N/E facing slopes which can be triggered above 2500 m even by the impulse of one single person as a medium-sized slab. The situation is not easy to assess because there are many hardened and windblown surfaces. Very few danger zones exist in the shallow-snow transitions (persistent weak layer). There, large additional loading can trigger a slab avalanche which can reach medium size.

At low and intermediate altitudes the moist snowpack is encrusted due to rainfall. During the daytime it turns to firn snow, depending on gradient and aspect. On steep sunny slopes the snowpack loses its firmness. On very steep grassy slopes the snowpack can glide away over the ground. The foehn wind on the weekend deposited snowdrifts on north-facing slopes and in bowls, often hardened but easily triggerable because they were deposited atop surface hoar and faceted powder crystals. Inside the old snowpack there are faceted, soft layers (persistent weak layer) but these are currently unlikely to trigger.

Near the Main Tauern Ridge the residual cloud could persist, elsewhere it will be sunny on Thursday, following a night of clear skies, though impaired by cirrus clouds and Sahara dust. Winds will be brisk from the northwest. At 2000 m: 0 to 5 degrees; at 3000 m: -2 degrees. On Thursday night, slightly to heavily clouded, no precipitation. On Friday, heavy cloud will move in continually, impair the sun, but bring no precipitation. At 2000 m: 0 degrees, at 3000m: -6 degrees.

On Friday, lots of clouds, so hardly any naturally triggered avalanches.