Avalanche Risk - Early Warning for Austria

Time for our first avalanche warning of the winter! It's been a long wait for new snow, but it's coming... just take a little care and rein in the powder frenzy!

With snow now pushing into The Alps from the East, it's going to bring with it a significant avalanche risk to parts of Austria. Fresh snow is going to be falling onto old, compacted, transformed and even polished surfaces in places so there are likely to be wide areas where the new snow is not going to bond to the existing base.


Image courtesy of www.lawine.salzburg.at

Salzburg Avalanche Warning Service wrote:
Avalanche Danger

This morning the danger is still unchanged, danger level is generally LOW (1), above 2000 m despite initial snow transport still MODERATE (2). This afternoon the storm will sharply intensify, the danger of slab avalanches quickly rise to CONSIDERABLE (3). Snowdrift masses will accumulate in all aspects above the treeline, easily triggered and next to impossible to recognize, the weight of even one sole person is sufficient in steep terrain. Spread, frequency and depth of the drifts will increase significantly this evening and tonight. During the night, the first naturally-triggered avalanches are possible in deeply drifted zones, e.g. east and south-facing gullies.

For the full report visit (and bookmark!) www.lawine.salzburg.at

Stay safe people!

Good work, Admin - I presume the resorts are as good at flagging up the potential danger to skiers?

Resorts are making available avalanche bulletins but It's up to skiers to consult them, the risk level is usually shown near lift stations. If they receive the forecast snow the avalanche risk will be crazy. I hope people are careful. They haven't been spoiled by snow this season yet so temptation will be high.

dobby wrote:I presume the resorts are as good at flagging up the potential danger to skiers?

It varies immensely, but it is something everyone should make the effort to find.

Increasingly, electronic information boards will show weather and avalanche risk amongst the status of lifts, etc. but the most obvious indicators are usually the use of flags - either centrally to give the overall risk or at individual lift base stations for local risk levels (often accompanied by a blackboard with today's risk and other tips!).

Many European resorts use the (originally) French system of flags; a Yellow flag for Risk Levels 1 and 2, Yellow/Black chequered for Levels 3 and 4 and Black for Level 5.



See also Avalanche Risk Scale.

I think you are right re temptation given the recent lack of snowfall and the amount of snow predicted.

Great advice Admin, I always suggest booking a pro guide if you are skiing off piste. Some resorts are suggesting a metre of fresh snow fall in 48 hours, snow at that depth will slide, so ski safe people!