Lower Tauern South

Caution on very steep, shallow-snow slopes. Keep your distances.

Caution on very steep, shallow-snow slopes. Keep your distances.

Avalanche danger above 1600 m is MODERATE, below that altitude danger is LOW. Two moderate problems: persistent weak layer – this is the dominant theme of the moment, though hardly detectable from the snowpack surface. Potential weak layers inside the snowpack are likeliest in transitions into wind-loaded zones (often where snow is shallow). All in all the terrain has few spots where large additional loading (a fall, a group without distances, stomping) can trigger a slab avalanche. But if a slab triggers it can grow to large size. Second problem: snowdrift threat – the fresh drift are small and thin. On steep slopes they can trigger a small avalanche. In extremely steep terrain they can be triggered by a fall.

The fresh snow from Friday (5-10 cm) was transported on Saturday in the Tauern and exposed zones of the Northern Alps. Small snowdrift masses were generated, currently not very prone to triggering. Beneath the fresh snow are compact layers which distribute the dynamic forces well. Inside the old snowpack, particularly on north-facing slopes, are faceted crystals which tend towards fracture propagation.

Sunday will bring clear skies, outstanding mountain weather with but a few cirrus clouds in the morning. Winds will be light to moderate. Temperatures will rise. At 2000 m: -3 to 0 degrees. On Monday, excellent backcountry touring weather, sunny and clear. Winds from south-to-east will intensify slightly. At 2000m: 0 degrees.

No significant change is expected until Tuesday.