Glockner Group Central

Danger zones: in gullies and on esp. on steep ridgeline slopes

Danger zones: in gullies and on esp. on steep ridgeline slopes

Avalanche danger above the treeline is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is LOW. The variable winds in recent days have loaded E/NW slopes with drifts. A medium slab avalanche can be triggered even by minimum additional loading. Avalanche prone locations occur mostly near ridgelines, also distant from ridgelines in high alpine regions, and in steep gullies and bowls. In high alpine regions, superficial avalanches can fracture down to more deeply embedded layers and grow to large size.

The fresh snow over the weekend was able to settle but is still loose. Due to nights of clear skies, surface hoar has formed which is then blanketed by snowdrifts generated by intensifying northerly winds. Wherever the sun has moistened the snowpack superficially on Wednesday, a thin melt-freeze crust was able to form.Particularly on shady slopes, the snowdrift accumulations are inadequately bonded with the old snowpack. Potential fracture points for slab avalanches lie mostly in the very cold and loose now-blanketed snow. Apart from that there are weak layers inside the old snowpack: melt-freeze crusts and depth hoar in the fundament.

On Friday, the peaks will mostly be shrouded in fog-like clouds. In the Lungau Nockberge there will be extended dry phases, but northerly foehn winds will be blowing. AT 2000 m: about -11 degrees, at 3000 m: -12 degrees. Also on Saturday, mostly heavy cloud over the mountains, only the highest summits will be in the clear. Light snowfall is possible during the course of the day.

Little change is expected.