Glockner Group Pasterze

Increase in avalanche danger as a consequence of new snow and strong wind. Natural avalanches are to be expected.

Outside marked and open pistes a very dangerous avalanche situation will prevail. The danger exists in particular in alpine snow sports terrain.

The fresh snow and the sometimes large wind slabs that are forming in all aspects can be released very easily above the tree line. Such avalanche prone locations are to be found also in areas close to the tree line. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack and fresh avalanches serve as an alarm indicating the danger. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible. The number and size of avalanche prone locations will increase from midday. As a consequence of new snow and strong wind more frequent natural avalanches are to be expected. Avalanches can in some cases penetrate deep layers and reach large size, especially on steep west, north and east facing slopes. On very steep slopes small and, in isolated cases, medium-sized loose snow avalanches are possible, in the event of rain this also applies at low and intermediate altitudes.

15 to 30 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall on Thursday. The wind will be strong in some cases. The wind will transport the new snow. Further wind slabs will form. The snowpack will be prone to triggering over a wide area. The meteorological conditions will bring about a substantial weakening of the snowpack in the afternoon. The new snow and wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack. Somewhat older wind slabs are lying on surface hoar. Distinct weak layers exist in the bottom section of the old snowpack. This applies in particular on west, north and east facing slopes above the tree line.

The off-piste conditions are very dangerous. Weak layers in the old snowpack represent the main danger. 10 to 20 cm of snow will fall during the night. This applies in particular in the north, in the Tuxer Alps, in the Zillertal Alps and in the High Tauern.