Kaiser Mountains - Waidring Alps

Kaisergebirge - Waidringer Alpen

Sat 28 Mar

Day Risk Profile

1

Low

below treeline

3

Considerable

above treeline

Avalanche Problems

Above treeline

Avalanche Activity

For those venturing off piste a sometimes precarious avalanche situation will prevail.

The large quantity of fresh snow and the extensive wind slabs can be released easily above the tree line. Avalanches can be triggered in near-surface layers and reach medium size. Additionally in isolated cases avalanches can penetrate near-ground layers of the snowpackSnow deposited on the ground in a multiplicity of layers.EAWS glossary, especially on shady slopes at elevated altitudes. WhumpfingDistinctive noise (resembling a “whumpf” sound) occurring when a weak layer beneath a slab collapses. The air of the weak layer is forced outside the snowpack, with the resulting whumpf sound being heard. The sound usually indicates an unstable situation and can be accompanied by surface cracking. A whumpf is a clear avalanche alert.EAWS glossary sounds and shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack can indicate the danger. As a consequence of solar radiation loose snow avalanches are possible. This applies in particular on very steep slopes in places that are protected from the wind. In addition gliding avalanches are to be expected, especially on cut and grassy slopes below approximately 2400 m.

Outlook

↘ Decreasing avalanche danger

29 March 2026

Avalanches can as before be released by people. The meteorological conditions will bring about a gradual stabilisation of the near-surface layers.

Snowpack & Weather

Snowpack ▾

30 to 50 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, has fallen. The wind has transported the new snow significantly. Extensive wind slabs formed. The new snow and wind slabs are lying on soft layers above the tree line. Isolated avalanche prone weak layersSnowpack layer in which the crystals are poorly bonded and the layer has the potential to fail. Typical crystals in dry weak layers causing avalanches are : precipitation particles; surface hoar; faceted crystals; hollow crystals; graupel. Generally >1mm in size, loose grains with few bonds Wet weak layers can be formed by all snow crystal/grain types.EAWS glossary exist in the bottom section of the old snowpackSnow layers deposited from earlier precipitation, prior to fresh fallen snow. Old snow layers consist of metamorphosed snow crystals.EAWS glossary, especially on shady slopes.