Lower Tauern South

Daytime increase in avalanche danger due to wet-snow avalanches

Daytime increase in avalanche danger due to wet-snow avalanches

Due to daytime warming and solar radiation, avalanche danger increases to moderate at all altitudes during the course of the day. On very steep sunny steep slopes, likelihood of wet-snow avalanches will increase somewhat, either triggering naturally or by persons during the ascent, mostly small releases. but sometimes reaching medium size in high-altitude starting zones. Backcountry tours and ascents to refuges should be launched early and come to an end early in the day. From very steep grass-covered slopes, isolated small-to-medium glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally. In very steep grass-covered terrain, in addition, mostly small glide-snow avalanches can trigger naturally. Very isolated danger zones for slab avalanches in the old snow occur on very steep shady slopes above 2400m. Danger zones occur in wind-loaded gullies and bowls, behind protruberances in the terrain and in ridgeline terrain, as well as in transitions from shallow to deeper snow.

The melt-freeze encrusted snowpack, only sometimes capable of bearing loads, gradually softens up during the early daytime hours. In extended north-facing terrain there are still weak layers of faceted crystals in the old snowpack. On shady summit slopes, shallow snowdrift patches lie deposited often atop weak layers of surface hoar or faceted crystals. In high-alpine regions, thin snowdrifts are being generated on E/S-facing slopes. On shady slopes below 2200m and on sunny slopes, the old snowpack is mostly moist. On very steep, little structure terrain surfaces, the entire snowpack oftens glides downhill.

On Friday night, clouds will pass through, but skies will often be clear or only partially cloudy. The initially brisk W/NW wind will slacken off during the night. Saturday will be very sunny with good visibility, only a few clouds near Hohe Tauern and Niedere Tauern. Winds will be light to moderate, shifting to southerly later in the day. At 2000m: 3-9 degrees; at 3000m: -1 to +3 degrees.

The snowpack is becoming thoroughly wet. Main danger: wet-snow and glide-snow avalanches.