Pongau Grass Mountains

Gliding snow remains main problem

Gliding snow remains main problem

Below 2400 m amid rising temperatures, continuing glide snow activity can be expected. Glide-snow avalanches can reach medium size and trigger at any time of day, esp. on S/E facing slopes. Avoid zones below glide cracks. In late afternoon, brisk westerly winds will arise, new trigger-sensitive snowdrift accumulations can be expected to form on N/E facing slopes, usually small-sized. Above 2500 m, weak layers in the old snowpack in the Northern Alps can be triggered. Danger zones occur primarily on shady slopes in transitions from shallow to deeper snow, usually by large additional loading. In very isolated cases, releases can reach large size.

The lowermost part of the snowpack has numerous melt-freeze crusts between which are faceted crystals, esp. on north-facing slopes and at high altitudes of the Northern Alps. The weak layers are most prevalent on shady slopes with shallow snow. Fresh snowdrifts will be generated in the afternoon, often deposited atop loose snowpack surfaces.

On Saturday, residual cloud, possible light snowfall, reduced visibility. Conditions will improve from the west during the morning, a bit of sunshine is expected. In the afternoon, pleasant conditions. Winds relatively light, brisk southerly winds rising along the Main Alpine Ridge in the afternoon. At 2000 m: -3 degrees; at 1500 m: 0 degrees.

Snowdrift problem intensifying. Glide-snow activity increasing at low altitudes due to rain impact.