Lower Tauern South

At low and intermediate altitudes, daytime rise in avalanche danger

At low and intermediate altitudes, daytime rise in avalanche danger

Avalanche danger above 2500m is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is LOW. In sun-drenched steep terrain small-to-medium wet loose-snow avalanches are possible in some sponts, either naturally or skier-caused. Also glide-snow avalanxches (medium to large) are possible in steep grassy terrain. Very few danger zones exist in transitions where snow is shallow in shady steep terrain (persistent weak layer). There, large additional loading could trigger a slab which could grow to medium size.

At low and intermediate altitudes the moistened snowpack is initially breakable or has a melt-freeze crust capable of bearing loads. During the day it turns to firn snow, depending on gradient and aspect, on steep sunny slopes it forfeits its firmness. On very steep grassy slopes the snowpack glides over the ground. At high altitudes there are a few cm of fresh snow, moistened by the solar radiation. Inside the still compact old snowpack there are faceted, soft layers (persistent weak layer) but these are currently unlikely to trigger.

Near the Main Tauern Ridge the residual cloud could persist, elsewhere it will be sunny on Thursday, following a night of clear skies, though impaired by cirrus clouds and Sahara dust. Winds will be brisk from the northwest. At 2000 m: 0 to 5 degrees; at 3000 m: -2 degrees. On Thursday night, slightly to heavily clouded, no precipitation. On Friday, heavy cloud will move in continually, impair the sun, but bring no precipitation. At 2000 m: 0 degrees, at 3000m: -6 degrees.

On Friday, lots of clouds, so hardly any naturally triggered avalanches.