Pongau Grass Mountains

Beware small snowdrift accumulations

Beware small snowdrift accumulations

Avalanche danger is low. At high altitudes, fresh small snowdrift accumulations are often triggerable by 1 person, esp in gullies and bowls. The danger of falling outweighs that of snow masses. Latent danger of glide-snow avalanches persists. In high starting zones, avalanches can reach medium-to-large size. Avoid zones below glide cracks. Due to rain impact, small loose-snow avalanches can be expected on extremely steep sunny slopes below 2000 m.

Due to southerly foehn wind, snowdrift accumulations are being deposited atop soft layers on shady slopes, are prone to triggering. The rain impact is causing a loss of firmness in the snowpack, a melt-freeze crust can form. On southern slopes firn snow is possible in the morning.

In the early part of the night, often heavy precipiation, snowfall level dropping in the Northern Alps down to 1200 m. Up to 15 cm of snowfall expected, with strong westerly winds (60 km/hr), after which the clouds will rapidly disperse. Often follow clear skies in the Northern Alps, with few residual clouds. On Thursday in the Northern Alps, few residual clouds, good visibility. As of midday, heavy clouds will move in from the northwest, the peaks will remain in the clear. In afternoon, showers will pass through, snowfall level at 1500 m. Winds initially from the south (50 km/hr) in the Northern Alps, then shifting to westerly. At 2000 m: -4 to -1 degree.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.