Glockner Group Pasterze

Evaluate freshly generated snowdrift accumulations on shady slopes with great caution. Caution: persistent weak layer.

Evaluate freshly generated snowdrift accumulations on shady slopes with great caution. Caution: persistent weak layer.

The snowdrift accumulations of recent days can easily be triggered in all aspects above 2200m by one single skier. Danger zones occur particularly in gullies, bowls and behind protruberances in the landscape. Avalanches can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers inside the snowpack on shady slopes in particular, and then grow to larger size. Size and frequency of danger zones tend to increase with ascending altitude.

The older snowdrifts from the last few days now blanket a weak old snowpack surface above 2200m on W/N/SE facing slopes. The various snowdrifts are often still poorly bonded with each other and with the old snowpack. Inside the old snowpack there are expansively metamosphosed, faceted crystals, particularly on shady wind-protected slopes. Solar radiation and higher temperatures led to a gradual softening of the snowpack during the course of the day, particularly on sunny slopes below 2700m. These weather conditions reinforce a stabilizing of the snowdrift accumulations. The snowpack is highly irregular, even over small areas. At all altitudes there is too little snow on the ground for this juncture of the season.

Friday will have cloudless skies in the mountains with outstanding visibility. The NE winds will hardly be noticeable. Further rising temperatures at all altitudes. At 3000m at midday: -1 degree; at 2000m: +4 degrees.

Avalanche danger levels are not expected to change significantly.