Goldberg Group North

On very steep N/W facing slopes, assess with caution the weak old snow. Fresh drifts are prone to triggering over small areas.

On very steep N/W facing slopes, assess with caution the weak old snow. Fresh drifts are prone to triggering over small areas.

Avalanche danger is moderate above 2200m, below that altitude danger is low. Medium-sized slab avalanches can be triggered by one sole skier in a few steep spots above 2200m. If a fracture occurs it can reach down to more deeply embedded layers in the snowpack and the release grow to medium size. The danger zones are difficult to recognize, occur esp. on very steep W/N facing slopes. Caution urged esp. at entry points into very steep gullies and bowls. During the course of the day, naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches can be expected in extremely steep south-facing terrain. On steep grass-covered slopes, isolated small glide-snow avalanches are possible in isolated cases.

The 5-15 cm of fresh snow/graupel from the last 24 hrs has been transported by northerly winds, including the often well consolidated and moistened (above 2400m) fresh snow from last week (30-60cm). On very steep shady slopes at high altitudes, this snow was deposited atop faceted, expansively metamorphosed snow. Due to massive settling on Saturday, the sink-in depth in all aspects is low (5-20cm).

On Tuesday, superb backcountry touring weather with brilliant sunshine and outstanding visibility. Easterly winds will be light to moderate, along the Tauern also from the south. On the summits of the Northern Alps, brisk and cold easterly winds will be blowing. Temperatures will rise. At 2000m. from -11 to -3 degrees; at 3000m. from -16 to -7 degrees.

Likelihood of snowdrift accumulations triggering will gradually diminish