Glockner Group Pasterze

Caution: freshly generated snowdrift accumulations often prone to triggering

Caution: freshly generated snowdrift accumulations often prone to triggering

Due to fresh snow and moderate northerly winds, often trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations have been generated in ridgeline terrain, gullies and bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape. These drifts can be triggered in many cases by one sole skier ib NW/N/SE facing slopes above 1800m. In addition, isolated avalanches can trigger in the weak old snow, esp. on W/N/E facing slopes above 2200m. Caution urged in transitions from shallow to deep snow, e.g. at entry points into gullies and bowls. Caution in transitions from shallow to deeper snow, e.g. at entry points into gullies and bowls. Avalanches can reach medium size.

Since Friday there has been 15-30cm of fresh snow registeres, locally more. Winds have transported the fresh fallen snow. The fresh snowdrift accumulations lie deposited atop an unfavorable old snowpack surface, in the lower part of the snowpack (esp. on W/N/E facing slopes) are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers. Very steep south-facing slopes: due to lower temperatures and low air moisture, a crust will form on the surface during the night. Weather conditions will lead to a moistening of the snowpack as of midday.

On Sunday, widespread cloudbanks will move in, visibility will be diffuse. Light to moderate W/NW winds will be blowing (20-40 km/hr). At 1000m: -3 to +1 degree; at 2000m: -4 degrees; at 3000m: -9 degrees. Source: GeoSphere Austria

Fresh snowdrifts need to be cautiously assessed. Pay attention to weak layers in old snowpack.