Glockner Group Pasterze

Avalanches can fracture in ground-level layers.

Avalanches can fracture in ground-level layers.

Weak layers in the old snow can be triggered particularly on wind-loaded slopes by one single winter sports enthusiast. The somewhat older snowdrift accumulations are easily recognized for the practiced tourers. Danger zones tend to increase in high alpine regions. Avalanches can be medium sized in isolated cases. Avalanche headquarters have little information from high alpine regions. For that reason, the situation must be cautiously evaluated on-site. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the danger of being swept along and forced to take a fall need to be taken into consideration.

Older snowdrift accumulations above 2400m blanket a weak old snowpack surface. Weather conditions are improving the avalanche situation on shady slopes. The upper part of the snowpack is soft; the intermediate layers are faceted. At all altitudes there is little snow on the ground for this juncture of the season. The snowpack is highly diverse, even over small areas.

On Saturday, dense clouds will move in from the southwest, the peaks will frequently disappear in fog, sunshine will be seldom. Precipitation is not anticipated. Winds will gradually shift to northwesterly, be blowing mostly at light to moderate strength. At summit altitude, gusts of 50 km/hr are possible. Temperatures will drop somewhat, at 3000m at midday: -11 degrees; at 2000m: -4 degrees; at 1000m: +1 degree.

Weather conditions, and thus, also avalanche danger developements are still uncertain.