Glockner Group Central

Caution: snowdrifts and persistent weak layer at high altitude. Glide-snow avalanches on steep grassy slopes.

Caution: snowdrifts and persistent weak layer at high altitude. Glide-snow avalanches on steep grassy slopes.

Avalanche danger above 2600 m is CONSIDERABLE, below that altitude danger is MODERATE. Fresh snowdrift accumulations on N/E facing slopes can easily be triggered at high altitudes, grow to medium size, also fracture down to deeper embedded laye35°) shady slopes above 1600 m. Transitions from shallow to deep snow are unfavorable. In case of solar radiation, small loose-snow avalanches can be expected in the afternoon on steep (>40°) slopes. Also isolated small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches continue to be possible on steep grass-covered slopes.

Between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, 15-25 cm of fresh snow is expected, locally up to 30 cm. Moderate-to-strong NW winds will transport the snow, generated fresh snowdrifts atop a thoroughly wet snowpack below 2400 m, often with a thin melt-freeze crust. Bonding deteriorates with ascending altitude. In the upper part of the snowpack there are weak expansively metamorphosed (faceted) layers above 2400 m which have led to numerous, sometimes large-sized avalanches during the last few days.

Wednesday morning: dense clouds, some rain/snow (snow above 800-1000m) in the Northern Alps. In the Tauern the snowfall level is higher. In the Nockberge it will probably remain dry. In the afternoon, conditions improving, a bit of sunshine. Winds light-to-moderate, sometimes brisk, from W/NW. At 2000 m: from -5 rising to -1 degree; at 3000 m: from -12 to -8 degrees.

Thursday: little change. A bit of snowfall in the morning, clouds will disperse in the afternoon. Somewhat milder, which will regain some firmness for the snowpack. Isolated wet loose-snow slides possible, also glide-snow avalanches are a threat.