Glockner Group Pasterze

Be careful of snowdrifts.

Be careful of snowdrifts.

Freshly generated snowdrift accumulations are small-sized yet still often prone to triggering, particularly in gullies and bowls above 2400m along the Salzburg border. Avalanches can in isolated cases fracture down to more deeply embedded layers in the old snowpack, releases are mostly small-sized. Apart from the risks of being buried in snow masses, the danger of taking a fall and being swept along also require consideration.

Freshly generated and older snowdrift accumulations lie deposited on weak layers particularly above 2400m on W/N/E facing slopes. More deeply embedded inside the old snowpack are faceted, expansively metamorphosed weak layers, esp. on shady wind-protected slopes. Sunshine and mild temperatures will moisten the snowpack slightly during the course of the day, esp. on very steep sunny slopes. The snowpack is highly diverse even over small areas. There is little snow on the ground.

On Saturday, pleasant and predominantly sunny weather will prevail with but a few innocuous thin clouds. Moderate-to-strong W/SW winds will reach speeds of 50 km/hr in the afternoon. At 1000m: 7 degrees at midday; 2000m: between 1 and 5 degrees; at 3000m: -1 degree. Source: GeoSphere Austria.

Increase in avalanche danger due to fresh snow and wind