Lower Tauern Central

Avoid snowdrift accumulations on north-facing slopes

Avoid snowdrift accumulations on north-facing slopes

Avalanche danger above 2000m is moderate, below that altitude danger is low. Small to medium slab avalanches can be triggered by one sole skier. Danger zones occur esp. on NW/N/E facing slopes, esp. near ridgelines on occasion distant from ridgelines. Caution urged esp. at entry points into very steep gullies and bowls. During the course of the day, naturally triggered loose-snow avalanches can be expected in extremely steep south-facing terrain below 2800m. On steep grass-covered slopes, isolated small glide-snow avalanches are possible in isolated cases. On steep grass-covered slopes isolated small glide-snow avalanches are possible.

In foehn-exposed areas, trigger-sensitive snowdrifts lie deposited at high altitudes on steep shady slopes atop expansively metamorphosed old snowpack layers. On sunny slopes there forms a thin melt-freeze crust at night - sometimes capable of bearing loads - which softens during the daytime, becomes moist, and can forfeit bonding.

Following a night of clear skies, sunshine and outstanding visibility on Sunday, a few cirrus clouds will be no disturbance. Winds moderate, gusts up to 50 km/hr from the south, in the Tauern up to 60-80 km/hr. At 2000m: -1 to +5 degrees; at 3000m: -2 degrees

On Sunday night, clouds will move in, only limited gain in snowpack firmness on south-facing slopes. Above 2000m a bit of fresh snow is expected, further down light rainfall, which will heighten the wet/gliding snow problem.