Wölz Tauern South

Persistent weak layer problem and some wind slab!

Persistent weak layer problem and some wind slab!

The avalanche risk is still rated as moderate above 1,800 metres and low below that. Older snowdrift accumulations can be triggered as slab avalanches in a few places even with little additional load and can also reach medium size when breaking through into the persistent weak layer. The danger areas are located in the north to east aspects behind ridgelines and terrain edges as well as in the entrance areas to steep gullies and bowls.

Sun and slight warming lead to a settlement of the snowpack. On the northern sides, a layer of snow covers surface hoar and older wind slab in the higher elevations. In the northern and eastern exposures, the snowpack is still weakened with faceted crystals and floating snow (persistent weak layer problem!).

During the night to Thursday, precipitation from an Italian low will spread to Styria from the south. The snowfall level will drop from 1200 metres to the valleys in the morning. It will mostly remain cloudy all day on Thursday and it may snow lightly, occasionally even moderately, until around midday. In the afternoon it will be mostly free of precipitation. Moderate north-westerly wind. The temperature at an altitude of 2000 metres will be between -5 and -0 degrees. Moderate winds with gusts around 40 km/h from the northwest. The snowfall level will be between the valleys and around 800 metres above sea level. Amounts of new snow of up to 10 cm are expected.

On Friday, the sun will shine at times, especially in the west of Upper Styria, while clouds will predominate in the eastern half of the country. No change in the avalanche risk is expected.